Cyclura cychlura ssp. cychlura

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	IGUANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cyclura cychlura ssp. cychlura

Infra-specific Authority:

(Cuvier, 1829)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Andros Rock Iguana, Andros Iguana, Andros Island Iguana, Andros Island Rock Iguana

Taxonomic Notes:

Cyclura cychlura Cuvier, 1829 - later given the tautonym Cyclura cychlura cychlura by Schwartz & Carey, 1977.

Synonyms = Iguana cychlura Cuvier, 1829; Cyclura baeolopha Cope, 1861.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2bce; B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2004

Assessor/s:

Knapp, C.R. & Buckner, S.D.

Reviewer/s:

Hudson, R. & Alberts, A. (Iguana Red List Autority)

Justification:
Cyclura cychlura cychlura is restricted to Andros Island in The Bahamas. Extent of occurrence is < 5,000 km² and the population is fragmented: at least nine subpopulations are known occurring in a habitat that is fragmented by logging and development activities, and the effects of fire and introduced species. Habitat is declining both in area and quality. It is estimated that at least 20% of available habitat has been lost over the last 10 years.

In addition to habitat loss, this iguana is hunted locally for its meat and collected for the international pet trade. Current population size is less than 5,000 and declining. There has been a decline of at least 50% in population size over the last three generations (36 years).

Currently assessed as Endangered.

History:

1996

–

Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This subspecies is found on Andros Island on the western edge of the Great Bahama Bank. Andros is the largest of the Bahamian islands with an area of 5,959 km². Subpopulations are found in areas in the North, Middle and South of the Island with associated satellite cays.
Countries:	Native: Bahamas

Population [top]

Population:	While estimates put the wild population at 2,500 to 5,000 distributed in three or more subpopulations (Hudson et al. 1994), these figures could be much too optimistic as only occasional animals are observed, and these in scattered locations. Alternatively, due to the remoteness and difficulty in accessing much of the region, large subpopulations could be encountered, particularly in the central and southern regions of the island and in the western reaches of north Andros. Current subpopualtion size estimates are: North Andros (<500); Middle Andros (<1,500); South Andros (<2,000); satellite cays (<1,000).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

While estimates put the wild population at 2,500 to 5,000 distributed in three or more subpopulations (Hudson et al. 1994), these figures could be much too optimistic as only occasional animals are observed, and these in scattered locations. Alternatively, due to the remoteness and difficulty in accessing much of the region, large subpopulations could be encountered, particularly in the central and southern regions of the island and in the western reaches of north Andros.

Current subpopualtion size estimates are: North Andros (<500); Middle Andros (<1,500); South Andros (<2,000); satellite cays (<1,000).

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The Andros rock iguana is the only iguana in the Bahamas that is not now confined to small cays. One preferred habitat of this subspecies is under the open canopy of the pine barrens (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis), which offers a variety of fruits, flowers and leaves of plants suitable for consumption by rock iguanas. The karst rock provides suitable retreats. Herbivorous, ground dwelling, saxicolous iguana using limestone crevices, or burrows constructed in sandy loam, as retreats. Juveniles and subadults often climb trees and shrubs in the morning to feed and bask. Hollows in dead trees are often used as retreats for juveniles.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The Andros rock iguana is the only iguana in the Bahamas that is not now confined to small cays. One preferred habitat of this subspecies is under the open canopy of the pine barrens (Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis), which offers a variety of fruits, flowers and leaves of plants suitable for consumption by rock iguanas. The karst rock provides suitable retreats.

Herbivorous, ground dwelling, saxicolous iguana using limestone crevices, or burrows constructed in sandy loam, as retreats. Juveniles and subadults often climb trees and shrubs in the morning to feed and bask. Hollows in dead trees are often used as retreats for juveniles.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	A major threat to the Andros Island iguana is the proliferation and expansion of the range of feral pigs. While this is recognized both locally and nationally, appropriate methods of control have yet to be determined. Particularly in north Andros, feral pigs pose a very real threat to the recruitment of iguanas as they are known to rout out eggs from iguana nests. Feral and domestic dogs are also a threat to both juvenile and adult animals. The status and degree of threat posed by feral cats on Andros is unknown. Many local residents are apparently unaware of the protected status of the Andros iguanas and may occasionally take them for human consumption. The Andros iguana is threatened as a result of the acceleration of perturbations to iguana populations, such as habitat loss, feral animals and subsistence hunting. Although the island is large and some undisturbed subpopulations exist, it is only a matter of time before humans or feral animals degrade the populations. An obvious north/south trend in population decline is noted and procedures must be implemented to stop further degradation of subpopulations and habitat.

Major Threat(s):

A major threat to the Andros Island iguana is the proliferation and expansion of the range of feral pigs. While this is recognized both locally and nationally, appropriate methods of control have yet to be determined. Particularly in north Andros, feral pigs pose a very real threat to the recruitment of iguanas as they are known to rout out eggs from iguana nests. Feral and domestic dogs are also a threat to both juvenile and adult animals. The status and degree of threat posed by feral cats on Andros is unknown. Many local residents are apparently unaware of the protected status of the Andros iguanas and may occasionally take them for human consumption.

The Andros iguana is threatened as a result of the acceleration of perturbations to iguana populations, such as habitat loss, feral animals and subsistence hunting. Although the island is large and some undisturbed subpopulations exist, it is only a matter of time before humans or feral animals degrade the populations. An obvious north/south trend in population decline is noted and procedures must be implemented to stop further degradation of subpopulations and habitat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Cyclura cychlura is included in CITES Appendix I. Like all Bahamian rock iguanas, this subspecies is also protected in the Bahamas under the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968. However, no areas have been specifically designated for the protection of iguanas on Andros and no specific conservation programs are in place. There are currently no captive programs for this subspecies. There is one old individual at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo in Nassau. No one has been found who recalls the iguana being brought to the zoo and as yet no records have been found. This iguana, first observed and photographed by S. Buckner in 1991, was still alive as of June, 1997. One large male, a long term captive held by a private resident of South Andros, was still alive in 1984. Attempts to breed this animal have resulted in the death of at least two other iguanas, presumably females. A new protected area on North Andros was declared in 2003 but is in an area of low iguana occurrence and is only protected on paper. There are no protection measures on the ground.

Conservation Actions:

Cyclura cychlura is included in CITES Appendix I. Like all Bahamian rock iguanas, this subspecies is also protected in the Bahamas under the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968. However, no areas have been specifically designated for the protection of iguanas on Andros and no specific conservation programs are in place.

There are currently no captive programs for this subspecies. There is one old individual at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo in Nassau. No one has been found who recalls the iguana being brought to the zoo and as yet no records have been found. This iguana, first observed and photographed by S. Buckner in 1991, was still alive as of June, 1997. One large male, a long term captive held by a private resident of South Andros, was still alive in 1984. Attempts to breed this animal have resulted in the death of at least two other iguanas, presumably females.

A new protected area on North Andros was declared in 2003 but is in an area of low iguana occurrence and is only protected on paper. There are no protection measures on the ground.

Citation:	Knapp, C.R. & Buckner, S.D. 2004. Cyclura cychlura ssp. cychlura. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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