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Cyclura nubila 1
Cyclura nubila
Cuban rock iguana
Cyclura nubila
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)Scientific classification
Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: SauropsidaOrder:
SquamataFamily: IguanidaeGenus: CycluraSpecies: C. nubila
Binomial name
Cyclura nubila(Gray, 1831)Subspecies
Cyclura nubila caymanensis Cyclura nubila nubila
Cyclura nubila, also known as the Cuban rock iguana, Cuban
ground iguana, or Cuban iguana, is a species oflizard of the iguana
family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas (genus
Cyclura), one of the mostendangered groups of lizards. This
herbivorous species with red eyes, a thick tail, and spiked jowls
is one of thelargest lizards in the Caribbean.The Cuban iguana is
distributed throughout the rocky southern coastal areas of mainland
Cuba and its surroundingislets with a feral population thriving on
Isla Magueyes, Puerto Rico. It is also found on the Cayman Islands
of LittleCayman and Cayman Brac, where a separate subspecies
occurs. Females guard their nest sites and often nest in
sitesexcavated by Cuban crocodiles. As a defense measure, the Cuban
iguana often makes its home within or nearprickly-pear
cacti.Although the wild population is in decline because of
predation by feral animals and habitat loss caused by human
agricultural development, the numbers of iguanas have been
bolstered as a result of captive-breeding and other
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Cyclura nubila 2
conservation programs. Cyclura nubila has been used to study
evolution and animal communication, and itscaptive-breeding program
has been a model for other endangered lizards in the Caribbean.
Taxonomy
In the st nad Labem Zoo
The Cuban rock iguana's generic name Cyclura isderived from the
Ancient Greek cyclos()meaning "circular" and our() meaning
"tail",after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all
Cyclura.John Edward Gray, the British zoologist who firstdescribed
the species in 1831 as Iguana (Cyclura)nubila or "Clouded Guana",
gave it the specific namenubila, Latin for "cloudy".
The closest relatives of Cyclura nubila are the GrandCayman blue
iguana (Cyclura lewisi) and the NorthernBahamian rock iguana
(Cyclura cychlura);phylogenetic analysis indicates that these three
speciesdiverged from a common ancestor three million yearsago.
Cyclura nubila was previously considered to have three
subspecies, the Grand Cayman blue iguana (termed Cycluranubila
lewisi), the Lesser Caymans iguana (Cyclura nubila caymanensis),
and the nominate Cuban subspecies(Cyclura nubila nubila). This
classification was revised after later mitochondrial DNA analysis
and research into thescalation patterns on the heads of Caribbean
iguanid lizards (these patterns are unique by species and act as
a"fingerprint" of sorts). The Grand Cayman blue iguana is now
recognized as a separate species.a
Anatomy and morphology
In Prague Zoo
The Cuban iguana is a large lizard, with an averagebody length
of 40 centimeters (16in) from snout tovent (the base of the tail).
On rare occasions, individualmales with lengths of 1.6 meters
(5.2ft) whenmeasured from the snout to the tip of the tail have
beenrecorded at the wildlife sanctuary within theGuantanamo Bay
Naval Base (GTMO), Cuba withfemales being two thirds that size. The
species issexually dimorphic: males are much larger thanfemales,
and males have enlarged femoral pores ontheir thighs, which are
used to release pheromones toattract mates and mark territory. The
skin of maleCuban iguanas ranges in color from dark gray to
brickred, whereas that of females is olive green with darkstripes
or bands. In both sexes, limbs are black withpale brown oval spots
and solid black feet. Young animals tend to be dark brown or green
with faint darker stripingor mottling in five to ten diagonal
transverse bands on the body. These bands blend in with the body
color as theiguana ages. Both sexes possess a dewlap (skin hanging
below the neck) and a row of spines running down their
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Cyclura nubila 3
back to their thick tail. Their heads and necks are short and
stout, their teeth are solid and broad, and they havepowerful jaw
muscles. Their jowls, which grow larger as the animal ages, are
covered in spiky protuberances calledtubercles.The Cuban iguana's
eyes have a golden iris and red sclera. Cuban iguanas have
excellent vision and the ability todetect shapes and movement at
long distances. Sensory cells called "double cones" give them sharp
color vision andenable them to see ultraviolet wavelengths. By
seeking out locations with more ultraviolet sunlight to bask in,
theCuban iguana optimizes vitamin D production. Cuban iguanas have
poor low-light vision, because they have fewrods or photoreceptor
cells. Like other iguanids, Cuban iguanas have a white photosensory
organ on the top of theirheads, called the parietal eye. This "eye"
has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images, but
it issensitive to changes in light and can detect movement.
DietLike all Cyclura species, the Cuban iguana is primarily
herbivorous; 95% of its diet consists of the leaves, flowersand
fruits from as many as 30 plant species, including the seaside rock
shrub (Rachicallis americana), thistle, pricklypear (Opuntia
stricta), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), red mangrove
(Rhizophora mangle), olives, andvarious grasses. Aiding in the
digestion of this high-cellulose diet, colonies of nematodes occupy
50% of thecontents of Cuban iguanas' large intestines. Cuban
iguanas occasionally consume animal matter, and individualshave
been observed scavenging the corpses of birds, fish and crabs.
Researchers on Isla Magueyes observed a singleepisode of
cannibalism in 2006 when an adult female iguana chased, caught, and
ate a hatchling. The researcherswrote that the dense population on
Isla Magueyes could have caused this incident.Like other
herbivorous lizards, the Cuban iguana is presented with a problem
for osmoregulation: plant mattercontains more potassium and has
less nutritional content per gram than meat so more must be eaten
to meet thelizard's metabolic needs. Unlike those of mammals,
reptile kidneys cannot concentrate urine to save on water
intake.Instead, reptiles excrete toxic nitrogenous wastes as solid
uric acid through their cloaca. In the case of the Cubaniguana,
which consumes large amounts of vegetation, these excess salt ions
are excreted through the salt gland in thesame manner as in
birds.
Mating and behaviorCuban iguanas reach sexual maturity at an age
of two to three years. Males are gregarious when immature,
butbecome more aggressive as they age, vigorously defending
territories in competition for females. Females are moretolerant of
each other, except after laying their eggs.Mating occurs in May and
June, and females lay single clutches of three to 30 eggs in June
or July. According tofield research, females deposit their eggs at
the same nesting sites each year. The nests are built near each
other assuitable nesting sites are becoming rare. On Cuba's Isla de
la Juventud, Cuban iguanas nest in pockets of earthexposed to the
sun by Cuban crocodiles, after the crocodiles' eggs have hatched.
These nests are separate from whereadult iguanas live. In areas
without crocodiles, the iguanas excavate nests in sandy beaches. At
the San Diego Zoo, afemale built a nest at the end of a long
chamber she excavated in the sand. She stood near it for weeks,
defending itby shaking her head and hissing at anyone who
approached; this behavior demonstrated that Cuban iguanas
guardtheir nest sites. The hatchlings spend several days to two
weeks in the nest chamber from the time they hatch to thetime they
emerge from the nests; dispersing individually after
emergence.Although Cuban iguanas typically remain still for long
periods of time and have a slow lumbering gait due to theirbody
mass, they are capable of quick bursts of speed for short
distances. Younger animals are more arboreal and willseek refuge in
trees, which they can climb with great agility. The animal is a
capable swimmer and will take tonearby water if threatened. When
cornered they can bite and lash their tails in defense.
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Cyclura nubila 4
Distribution and habitat
Map of Cuba
The Cuban iguana is naturallydistributed in rocky coastal areas
onCuba and throughout as many as 4,000islets surrounding the Cuban
mainland,including Isla de la Juventud off thesouthern coast, which
has one of themost robust populations. Relativelysafe populations
are found on someislets along the north and south coastsand in
isolated protected areas on themainland. These
includeGuanahacabibes Biosphere Reserve inthe west, Desembarco del
GranmaNational Park, Hatibonico Wildlife Refuge, Punta
Negra-Quemados Ecological Reserve, and Delta del CautoWildlife
Refuge, all in eastern Cuba. Because of this wide distribution,
accurate information about the number ofdistinct subpopulations of
Cuban iguanas cannot be determined. The population on the US Naval
Base atGuantnamo Bay has been estimated at 2,000 to 3,000
individuals, and the animals are treated well and protected byUS
forces stationed at the base. An unusual incident occurred when a
detainee in the prison assaulted a guard with abloody tail torn
from a Cuban iguana in May 2005.
The subspecies, Cyclura nubila caymanensis, is endemic to the
"Sister Islands" of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.The population on
Cayman Brac is less than 50 of these animals and Little Cayman
supports 1,500. A feralpopulation of C. n. caymanensis has been
established on Grand Cayman.The Cuban iguana makes its burrow near
cacti or thistles, sometimes even within the cactus itself. These
thornyplants offer protection and their fruit and flowers offer the
iguanas food. In areas without cacti, the lizards make theirburrows
in dead trees, hollow logs, and limestone crevices.In the mid-1960s
a small group of Cuban iguanas was released from a zoo on Isla
Magueyes, southwest of PuertoRico, forming an independent
free-ranging feral population. As of 2000, there has been talk of
removing orrelocating this population of iguanas by the US
Department of Interior. This feral population is the source for 90%
ofthe captive Cuban iguanas held in private collections and was the
source for part of a study on animalcommunication and evolution
conducted by Emilia Martins, a biologist at Indiana
University.Martins' study compared the head-bob displays from the
source population on Cuba with these animals on IslaMagueyes. The
durations and pauses were longer by as much as 350% in the feral
population. In comparison, theblue iguana of Grand Cayman's
head-bob displays differed from those of the animals on Cuba by
only about 20%.The rapid change in display structure between the
colony of animals on Isla Magueyes and those on Cuba illustratedthe
potential of small founding population size as a catalyst to
evolution with regard to communication or display. Inthis case the
difference was by only six generations at most.
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Cyclura nubila 5
Conservation
In the wild
The Cuban iguana is well-established in public andprivate
collections. Many zoological parks and privateindividuals keep them
in captive breeding programs,minimizing the demand for wild-caught
specimens forthe pet trade. Cuban iguanas are listed as
"vulnerable"on the IUCN Red List, as is the predominant
Cubansubspecies, while the Cayman Island subspecies is"critically
endangered". The total population in Cuba isestimated at between
40,000 and 60,000 individuals,and the feral population on Isla
Magueyes is estimatedat over 1,000. According to Allison Alberts,
ChiefConservation Officer of the San Diego Zoo and leadresearcher
in Cuba, among the many wildlife species at
GTMO, "The Cuban Iguana is one of the largest, undoubtedly the
most visible, and certainly the most charismatic. Itseems that no
one completes a tour of duty at GTMO without getting to know these
prehistoric-looking giants."
In a round-about way, the Cuban iguana's status under the US
Endangered Species Act made its way into USjurisprudence. In the
fall of 2003, attorney Tom Wilner needed to persuade the justices
of the US Supreme Court totake the case of a dozen Kuwaiti
detainees being held in isolation in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, without
charges,without a hearing and without access to a lawyer. According
to Peter Honigsberg, a professor of law at theUniversity of San
Francisco, Wilner unsuccessfully made two arguments before the
Court to hear his case; in histhird argument he changed tactics by
mentioning US law and the Cuban iguana. Wilner argued, "Anyone,
includinga federal official, who violates the Endangered Species
Act by harming an iguana at Guantanamo, can be fined andprosecuted.
Yet the government argues that US law does not apply to protect the
human prisoners there". Accordingto Honigsberg, the Supreme Court
agreed to hear the case because of this argument.
DeclineIn general the species is in decline, more quickly on the
mainland than on the outlying islets. The Cuban mainlandpopulations
have been declining at a rate of over 1% per year for the last
10years. The Cuban iguana is no longerfound on the northeastern
coast of Havana, the Hicacos Peninsula, or Cayo Largo, areas where
it was found in greatnumbers some 30 to 40years ago.As opposed to
other West Indian islands where iguanids are found, consumption of
iguana meat is not widespread inCuba. Certain fishing communities
do practice it for subsistence, but for the most part the animal is
not eaten byCubans. According to naturalist Thomas Barbour, this is
based on unfounded superstitious beliefs which suggest thatthe
iguanas emit a dark fluid reminiscent of the black vomit of yellow
fever victims when they are killed. One of thereasons for their
decline is habitat destruction caused by the overgrazing of farm
animals, housing development, andthe building of tourist resorts on
the beaches where the animals prefer to build their nests.
Populations of iguanassuffer by the direct predation of introduced
animals such as rats, cats, and dogs. Feral hogs are responsible
fordestroying many iguana nest sites which they dig up for eggs.
Ant predation of iguana eggs is another threat to thespecies.
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Cyclura nubila 6
Recovery
Cyclura nubila at a tourist resort in south-eastCuba.
All but one of the major iguana concentrations are either
partially orfully protected by the Cuban government. Although
nocaptive-breeding program exists within Cuba, the Centro Nacional
deAreas Protegidas (the National Center for Protected Areas)
hassuggested it will explore this route in the future. In 1985 the
Cubangovernment issued a commemorative peso depicting a Cuban
iguanaon the head side of the coin in an attempt to raise awareness
for thisanimal.
In 1993 the San Diego Zoo experimentally tested the utility of
a"head-starting" program for newly hatched Cuban iguanas
withfunding from the National Science Foundation's Conservation
andRestoration Biology Program. "Head-starting" is a process by
which the Cuban iguana's eggs are hatched in anincubator and the
animals are protected and fed for the first 20 months of their
lives. The purpose is to get theanimals to a size where they are
more capable of fleeing from or fighting off predators. This
technique was originallyused to protect hatchling sea turtles,
Galapagos land iguanas, and Ctenosaura bakeri on the island of
tila, butAlberts used it for the first time on a Cyclura species
with the Cuban iguana. The purpose was not only to help theCuban
iguana population, but to test the overall effectiveness of
headstarting as a conservation strategy for morecritically
endangered species of Cyclura.
The strategy proved successful, according to Alberts, when the
released head-started iguanas reacted to predators,foraged for
food, and behaved like their wild-born counterparts. This strategy
has been implemented with greatsuccess with other critically
endangered species of Cyclura and Ctenosaura throughout the West
Indies and CentralAmerica, notably the Jamaican iguana, Grand
Cayman blue iguana, Ricord's iguana, Allen Cays iguana,
Acklinsground iguana, and Anegada iguana.
References
Footnotes Note a:Burton, F. (2004): The 1977 study by Schwartz
and Carey included scalation counts for different species
of Cyclura, but did not distinguish Cyclura nubila from Cyclura
cychlura found in the Bahamas. Fred Burtonnoted a conspicuously
enlarged canthal scale in Cyclura cychlura while performing his
survey of Cyclura.Burton's conclusion was that in 2 of 38 specimens
of Cyclura lewisi, the fourth auricular row was so reduced as
toappear like Cyclura nubila caymanensis, and in six of 38 C. n.
caymanensis, a complete row of five auricularswas present. The
character was intermediate for Cyclura nubila, where 10 of 32
specimens showed a completeauricular row.
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Cyclura nubila 7
Further reading Alberts, Allison C. (2006). "Conserving the
Remarkable Reptiles of Guantanamo Bay". Iguana (IRCF) 13 (1):
815. Alberts, Allison C. (1995). "Use of statistical models
based on radiographic measurements to predict oviposition
date and clutch size in rock iguanas (Cyclura nubila)". Zoo
Biology 14 (6): 543553. doi:10.1002/zoo.1430140607 (http:/ / dx.
doi. org/ 10. 1002/ zoo. 1430140607).
Alberts, Allison C.; Lemm, Jeff M.; Perry, A. M.; Morici, Lisa;
Phillips, John (2002). "Temporary alteration oflocal social
structure in a threatened population of Cuban iguanas (Cyclura
nubila)". Behavioral Ecology andSociobiology 51 (4): 324335. doi:
10.1007/s00265-001-0445-z (http:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10.
1007/s00265-001-0445-z).
Alberts, Allison C.; Oliva, M.L.; Worley, M. B.; Telford, Sam
R.; Morris, Patrick J.; Janssen, Donald L. (1998)."The need for
pre-release health screening in animal translocations: a case study
of the Cuban iguana (Cycluranubila)". Animal Conservation 1 (3):
165172. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.1998.tb00025.x (http:/ / dx. doi.
org/ 10.1111/ j. 1469-1795. 1998. tb00025. x).
Alberts, Allison C.; Lemm, Jeff M.; Perry, A. M. (1997).
"Effects of incubation temperature and water potentialon growth and
thermoregulatory behavior of hatchling Cuban rock iguanas (Cyclura
nubila)". Copeia (4):766776.
An, J.H.; Somer, J. A.; Shore, Gary D.; Williamson, Janet E.;
Brenneman, Rick A.; Louis, Edward E. (2004)."Characterization of 20
microsatellite marker loci in the west Indian rock iguana (Cyclura
nubila)". ConservationGenetics 5 (1): 121125. doi:
10.1023/B:COGE.0000014062.86556.e3 (http:/ / dx. doi. org/ 10.
1023/ B:COGE.0000014062. 86556. e3).
Garcia, Miguel A. (2006). "Cyclura nubila on Isla Magueyes,
Puerto Rico". Iguana (IRCF) 13 (2): 126. Lacy, K.E.; Martins, E. P.
(2003). "The effect of anthropogenic habitat usage on the social
behaviour of a
vulnerable species, Cyclura nubila". Animal Conservation 6 (1):
39. doi: 10.1017/S1367943003003020 (http:/ /dx. doi. org/ 10. 1017/
S1367943003003020).
Rehak, Ivan; Velensky, Petr (2001). "The biology and breeding of
the Cuban ground iguana (Cyclura nubila) incaptivity". Gazella 28
(1): 129208.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cyclura nubila.
Wikispecies has information related to: Cyclura nubila
Cuban iguana at Cyclura.com (http:/ / cyclura. com/ status/
cuban. htm) International Iguana Foundation Article on Cuban
Iguanas (http:/ / www. iguanafoundation. org/ article.
php?articleID=50) Guided by Nature: Conservation Research and
Captive Husbandry of the Cuban Iguana (http:/ / php. indiana.
edu/
~emartins/ Melissa/ alberts2. html)
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Article Sources and Contributors 8
Article Sources and ContributorsCyclura nubila Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=621888060 Contributors:
Angusmclellan, Another Believer, Aranae, Arjuno3, Auric, Axl,
Bibliomaniac15, Calliopejen1,Ceilidthbear, Charles Matthews,
Colonies Chris, Dabomb87, Debresser, DrKiernan, Droll, Dthomsen8,
DynamoDegsy, Ealdgyth, Fifelfoo, Finetooth, Gorthian, GrahamColm,
Innotata, Jamaicancollege grad, Jimfbleak, Jones 8842, Karelj,
LilHelpa, Ling.Nut, Materialscientist, Mike Searson, Mishae,
Nikkimaria, NuclearWarfare, Rjwilmsi, STEAKSANDSHAKE, Santista1982,
Sasata,Stickee, TDogg310, Tbhotch, Thylacinus cynocephalus, Tony1,
Ucucha, Whywhenwhohow, 10 anonymous edits
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Cyclura nubilaTaxonomyAnatomy and morphologyDietMating and
behaviorDistribution and habitatConservationDeclineRecovery
ReferencesFootnotesFurther readingExternal links
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