Northern Bahamian rock iguana
Northern Bahamian rock iguana | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Iguanidae |
Genus: | Cyclura |
Species: | C. cychlura
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Binomial name | |
Cyclura cychlura (Cuvier, 1829)
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Subspecies | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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The northern Bahamian rock iguana (Cyclura cychlura) is a species of
Taxonomy
It was first described as a new species, Iguana cychlura, by Georges Cuvier in 1829.[1]
Mitochondrial DNA analysis by biologist Catherine Malone found its closest relatives to be Cyclura nubila on Cuba, and C. lewisi on Grand Cayman. According to her C. lewisi, C. nubila and C. cychlura had diverged almost as much as each other, although she only used a single locus and a very small sample set of each species.[3] According to a 2005 article in the magazine New Scientist C. lewisi may have diverged from C. nubila some 3 million years ago.[4]
There are three recognised
Description
This species, like other species of Cyclura, is
Distribution
This species only occurs in the southwestern
Ecology (Habitat)
It lives in tropical dry forest, pine barrens, coastal coppice, mangrove and beach strand
Conservation
Status
In 2004 the
Causes of decline
In 2004 the IUCN listed the main threats to this lizard depended on the islands where the different subspecies came from; with the Andros Island population to be threatened by logging, infrastructure development, feral animals and fires set for agricultural or crab-hunting reasons. The populations from the Exumas were imperilled due to feral animals (goats), fires caused by tourists, and rapid private land acquisition (primarily for tourism purposes). Development, fire and feral animals had caused a reduction in area of suitable habitat of at least 20% over the previous 30 years. Feral animals which pose a threat to the iguanas are cats, dogs, hogs and goats.
References
- Data related to Cyclura cychlura at Wikispecies
- ^ . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
- ^ PMID 11083940. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
- ^ Kenyon, Georgina (14 September 2005). "Pulling the blue iguana from the brink". New Scientist. No. 2517. London: Simone Coless. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1.
- ISBN 1-882770-18-8.
- ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1.
- ^ a b Morgan, Curtis (July 7, 2002). "In Bahamas Some Indulge Taste For Dwindling Iguana". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- Media related to Cyclura cychlura at Wikimedia Commons