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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Cuban iguana, Cuban rock iguana |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Iguanidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cyclura (rounded tail) nubila nubila |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Cuban iguanas have a long, straight tail; short,
powerful limbs; sharp claws; a large flap of skin
called a dewlap hangs from the throat area
and assists in temperature regulation. Their colors
range from dark grays to light browns with some
noticeable banding. |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| SIZE: |
Up
to 1.5 m (5 ft.) in length |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| WEIGHT: |
Up
to 7 kg (15 lb.) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| DIET: |
Cuban iguanas are omnivorous; they feed on fruits,
flowers, leaves, insects, and snails. Young iguanas
eat more insects and shift to 95% vegetation as
they age. |
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| INCUBATION: |
3-4 months; females guard their nests for months
after the eggs hatch |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-17
eggs; females excavate burrows about 0.9 m (3 ft.)
in length, and lay their eggs at the end of the
tunnel; Cyclura eggs are relatively large
for lizard standards |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
text |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
5-9 years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Approximately
15 years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| RANGE: |
Native
to the island nation of Cuba |
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| HABITAT: |
This species prefers temperatures in the upper 90s.
They sleep in burrows and other hiding places. They
are often seen climbing trees, on the ground, and
on limestone formations. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
text |
| LOCAL |
text |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Vulnerable |
| CITES |
Appendix
I |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
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| 1. |
The Cuban iguana is a subspecies of West Indian
rock iguana. |
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| 2. |
Iguana's
store large amounts of fat in their lower jaw
and neck area in order to survive periods of famine.
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| 3. |
The
iguana's dewlap helps to regulate body temperature
and is used in threat and courtship displays. |
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| 4. |
When
initiating an escape response, Cuban iguanas are
known to jump from tree to water, using their powerful
tails for swimming. They are able to leap from heights
of 12.2-15.2 m (40-50 ft.) without injury. Iguanas
are able to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes. |
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| 5. |
Iguana's
tails have weakened vertebrae - if caught by the
tail, an iguana can break free from its tail and
attempt escape. Iguanas are also able to whip their
tails in defense, leaving a stinging welt or more
serious wound. |
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| 6. |
text |
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The Cuban iguana, though not endangered, suffers
from habitat loss and predation by introduced
species such as cats, dogs, and pigs.
The
Cuban iguana is the largest of the West Indian
rock iguanas, the most endangered group of lizards
in the world. Until recently, they were the largest
native land vertebrates in the West Indies.
Cyclura
are potentially important seed dispersers for
native plants.
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|
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Barlett, R.D. and Patricia P. Bartlett. Iguanas.
New York. Barron's. 1995.
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Burghardt, Gordon M., and Rand, Stanley A. Iguanas
of the World. New Jersey: Noyes Publications,
1982. |
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Flank, Lenny Jr. Herp Help. New York: Howell
Book House, 1998.
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| Halliday,
Tim R., and Adler, Kraig. The Encyclopedia of
Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Equinox Books,
1986. |
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| Lemm,
Jeff and Allison Alberts. Guided by Nature: Conservation
Research and Captive Husbandry of the CubanIiguana.
1997. |
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| Roberts,
Mervin and Martha D. Roberts. All About Iguanas.
New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 1976. |
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| IUCN
SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist Group. http://www.scz.org/iguana/index.html |
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