Andros Island iguana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andros Island iguana |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Cyclura |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. c. cychlura
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| Trinomial name | |
| Cyclura cychlura cychlura (Cuvier, 1829)
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The Andros Island iguana is a special kind of lizard. It is also called the Andros iguana. Its scientific name is Cyclura cychlura cychlura. This iguana lives on Andros Island in the Bahamas. Andros Island is located near Grand Bahama.
Sadly, the Andros Island iguana is an endangered animal. This means there are not many left in the wild. Scientists believe there are about 3,500 of these iguanas remaining. You can find it listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. This list tracks animals that are at risk of disappearing forever.
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What is the Andros Island Iguana?
The Andros Island iguana, Cyclura cychlura cychlura, lives only on Andros Island. This makes it an "endemic" species to that island. It is one of three types of Northern Bahamian rock iguana. The other two are the Allen's Cay iguana and the Exuma Island iguana.
What Does the Andros Island Iguana Look Like?
The Andros Island iguana is one of the biggest rock iguanas. It can grow to be about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. Its body is dark gray or black. Its legs, head, and the spiky ridge on its back (called a dorsal crest) have yellowish-green or orange scales.
As the iguana gets older, the yellow colors turn into a bright reddish-orange. This bright color stands out against its darker body and black feet.
How Can You Tell Males and Females Apart?
Like many animals, male and female Andros Island iguanas look a bit different. This is called "sexual dimorphism." Males are usually bigger than females. They also have larger, more noticeable dorsal crests. Males have special pores on their thighs called femoral pores. They use these pores to release special scents called pheromones. These scents help them communicate with other iguanas.
What Do Andros Island Iguanas Eat?
Andros Island iguanas are mostly plant-eaters. This means they are "herbivorous." They enjoy eating leaves, flowers, and fruits. They get their food from over 100 different types of plants. Sometimes, they might also eat small things like insect larvae, crabs, slugs, or even dead birds. They rarely eat rats or fungi.
How Do Andros Island Iguanas Reproduce?
Andros Island iguanas usually mate in April and early May. The female iguanas lay their eggs in nests they dig. What's really cool is that they often dig their nests inside termite mounds! These mounds are built by a type of termite called Nasutitermes rippertii.
The Andros Island iguana is the only iguana known to use termite mounds to incubate its eggs. The termite mound helps keep the eggs warm and safe. Female iguanas often guard their nests until the eggs hatch.
Baby Iguanas
After hatching, the baby iguanas move away from the nest. They usually do this during their first two or three weeks. Young hatchlings are very vulnerable to predators like snakes. Sadly, less than one-third of the baby iguanas survive their first month.
Why Are Andros Island Iguanas Endangered?
Current Population Status
Scientists believe there are fewer than 3,500 Andros Island iguanas left in the world. This number is still going down. The population has dropped by at least half over the last 60 years. This is why they are listed as "Endangered."
Main Threats to Their Survival
Several things are causing the number of these iguanas to shrink:
- Hunting: People still hunt these iguanas for food. This is the biggest threat to their survival. It is the only Caribbean iguana species that is still regularly hunted.
- Feral Animals:
- Wild Pigs: Pigs that live in the wild (feral pigs) dig up iguana eggs from their nests.
- Wild and Pet Dogs: Dogs, both wild and pets, sometimes hunt and kill young and adult iguanas.
- Wild Goats: Goats that live in the wild (feral goats) compete with iguanas for food. They eat the same plants that iguanas need.
- Habitat Loss: Like many other rock iguanas, their homes are disappearing quickly. This is due to new buildings and cutting down trees.
What is Being Done to Help?
All Bahamian rock iguanas, including the Andros Island iguana, are protected by law. This protection comes from the Wild Animals Protection Act of 1968 in the Bahamas.
However, there are no specific areas on Andros Island set aside just for protecting iguanas. Also, there are no special conservation programs just for them. Currently, there are no programs to breed these iguanas in zoos or special centers.
