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Iguana
(Cyclura cornuta cornuta)
Photo courtesy of The BEST Commission
Description
The word “Iguana” comes from the Spanish version of
the Carib word, Iwana. This is the name given to a family of lizards
that are found throughout the Americas, West Indies, Galapagos Islands
and the Fiji Islands.. Iguanas all have strong jaws, long tails
and strong legs with long, sharp claws and the iguana family includes
about 30 different species. Iguanas have very long, hard tails that
they use for defense. They use the tail as a whip to ward of predators
and they can detach their tails from their bodies if tail is captured
by a predator.
The tail then grows back making the iguana a very
unique and adaptable animal. Iguanas have three eyes, the third
eye being the parietal eye which is located on the top of the iguanas
head. This eye serves as a photoreceptor, recognizing light, and
this eye also detects overhead movement warning iguanas of approaching
predators.The name Dewlap is given to the flap of skin found under
the iguanas chin. The Dewlap acts to regulate the iguana’s
body temperature. On hot days the iguana sticks out its Dewlap to
let heat out of their bodies and on cool or cold days it also lets
out its Dewlap in order to absorb as many of the sun’s rays
as possible to warm themselves.
Diet
Iguanas are carnivorous during their early developmental stage.
Upon maturity Iguanas become herbivores eating plants, fruits and
leaves that are at times toxic to human beings are easily digested
by the Iguanas. Iguanas receive water from the plants that they
consume. Due to the proximity of Iguanas to the sea and salt water
many of the plants and fruits that they eat are very salty. Iguanas
can store this salt in their noses, when this sac becomes full Iguanas
blow and expel the salt from their nose. As a result of this Iguanas
appear to sneeze a lot.
Reproduction
Mating occurs in mid-May, females migrate to potential nest sites.
The female then digs a burrow which she uses to place her eggs in
for their protection. Females defended the burrow site during the
entire time of construction, and most continue that defense for
at least three to four weeks after nest completion. Hatching generally
takes place in late September.
Habitat
Iguanas can be found in deserts, forests, rocky areas and coastal
areas. In the Bahamas there is a large Iguana population on Andros,
Exuma, San Salvador, Acklins and Mayaguana.
Current Status
The Bahamas has 3 species of Iguanas and 7 sub species. All rock
Iguanas in the Bahamas are considered endangered species. The numbers
of Iguanas are considerably low due to hurricanes and other natural
disasters that destroy their habitats. Also human introduced predators
such as raccoons, cats and dogs have assisted in the reduction of
the Iguana population along with farming and the construction of
homes and buildings. As a result of the endangerment the Iguanas
have suffered it is illegal to buy or sell Iguanas internationally
and also illegal to sell, kill or keep as pets in the Bahamas without
a permit.
Collection
of Species of the Month 2005
June: The Hawksbill
Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
July: The
Bahama Parrot (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis)
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