Northern Bahamian rock iguana (Cyclura cychlura)

Species information

Images

Range

This iguana is native to Andros and the Exuma Islands of the Bahamas (1). As its common name suggests, the Andros Island iguana inhabits Andros Island, the largest of the Bahamian Islands, while the Exuma Island iguana occurs on seven small cays scattered throughout the central and southern Exuma Island chain. Allen’s Cay iguana is also found in the Exuma Island chain, where only two breeding populations are known in the north, on leaf Cay (four hectares) and U Cay (also known as Southwest Allen's Cay; three hectares). A handful of adults also live on Allen’s Cay (seven hectares), but there has as yet been no evidence of breeding there (2).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

Preferred habitats include tropical dry forest, pine barrens, coastal coppice, mangrove and beach strand vegetation areas (1), while limestone crevices and burrows in the sand provide suitable retreats at night and in adverse weather conditions (2).