Ctenosaura defensor

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	IGUANIDAE

Scientific Name:

Ctenosaura defensor

Species Authority:

(Cope, 1866)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Yucatan Spiny-tailed Iguana
Spanish	–	Chop

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable A3cd; B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2004
Assessor/s	Köhler, G.
Evaluator/s:	Hudson, R. & Alberts, A. (Iguana Red List Authority)
Justification: Ctenosaura defensor is known only from the northern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Extent of occurrence is less than 20,000 km² and area of occupancy is less than 2,000 km². Number of locations is not known, however, the population is severely fragmented. Habitat is fragmented and is declining in quality. The population is also threatened by illegal collecting for the international pet trade. As a result of both these threats, the population is predicted to decline by at least 30% over the next ten years. Current population size is not known, but is thought to be several thousand.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ctenosaura defensor is restricted to northern Yucatán, Mexico.
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Yucatán)

Population [top]

Population:	Total population size is not known, but perhaps is less than 2,500 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Tropical dry forest formation (Holdridge 1967) from 0–100 m asl. The species is mostly terrestrial. Preferred habitat is rocky terrain. Hollows in rock formations are used as retreats.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat is fragmented and is decreasing in quality. The species is also harvested for the international pet trade.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat is fragmented and is decreasing in quality. The species is also harvested for the international pet trade.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is not known to occur within any protected areas, however all wildlife is currently protected under Mexican national law and permits are required to collect and export the species. Conservation actions recommended include further surveys for the species, research into genetics and life history, management and monitoring of the wild population and its habitat.

Conservation Actions:

This species is not known to occur within any protected areas, however all wildlife is currently protected under Mexican national law and permits are required to collect and export the species.

Conservation actions recommended include further surveys for the species, research into genetics and life history, management and monitoring of the wild population and its habitat.

Citation:	Köhler, G. 2004. Ctenosaura defensor. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 02 December 2008.
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