Mona Ground Iguana
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| Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri Barbour, 1937 |
The Mona Ground Iguana (Cyclura cornuta stejnegeri) is a subspecies of the rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta). It is endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico and is the largest terrestrial lizard in Puerto Rico.
Mona Ground Iguanas are diurnal and spend most of the day basking in the Sun conserving energy.
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[edit] Physical description
Mona Ground Iguanas are prehistoric looking lizards capable of reaching 1.22 metres in length (from snout to tail).[2] They have small horns located in their snout. Their color is generally olive to olive grey with slight brown or blue colorations. Juveniles differ from adults in that they have gray transversal bands through their bodies.[3] These bands last approximately until they are 3 years old.
[edit] Habitat
Mona Ground Iguanas are endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico. They are scattered through the entire island, however the southwest part of the island is only used during the nesting season. They live a considerable portion of their lives underground and are usually found in talus slopes, caves and sinkhole depressions. The average depth underground that they can be found is 1.5 metres.
[edit] Reproduction
Although Mona Ground Iguanas use the whole island as habitat only 1% of the territory is suitable for nesting. Only the southwest coast of the island is used for nesting because it contains loose sand and receives direct sunlight. The sand is necessary because females bury the eggs and sunlight is needed for incubating the eggs. Males reach sexual maturity at a size of 28-31 cm in length from snout-vent, usually in their third to fourth year while females mature one year later and at a size of 35-40 cm.
Nesting season begins in the second week of June. Usually one female mates with more than one male in the 2 weeks that the mating season lasts. Copulation may last from 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 15 seconds. One month later nesting begins. Females will dig a 3 foot long tunnel located 1-2 feet underground where they deposit from 5 to 19 eggs, with 12 being the average. They will guard the nest for several days but they will not provide parental care for the hatchlings which hatch three months later. Hatchlings measure, on average, 32 cm and weigh 73.7 grams.
[edit] Diet
Mona Ground Iguanas, as all cyclura spp., are omnivorous animals. Less than a dozen animal species and 71 plant species are found in the iguanas' diet.[4] Fruits are the preferred and most important source of food. The diet of adults and juveniles differ slightly but not significantly.
[edit] See also
- Fauna of Puerto Rico
- List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico
- List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
[edit] Notes
- ^ García et al (2000). Cyclura cornuta ssp. stejnegeri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 21 October 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is endangered.
- ^ Stejneger, L. 1904. The herpetology of Puerto Rico. Rept. U.S. Nat. Mus. 1902; 549-724.
- ^ Rivero, J.A. 1978. Los anfibios y reptiles de Puerto Rico. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Editorial Universitaria, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. 152p. 49 plates. (Spanish)
- ^ Wiewandt, T.A. 1977. Ecology, behavior, and management of the Mona Island ground iguana Cyclura stejnegeri. Ph.D. Thesis. Cornell University. 330p.
