Bahamian Rock Iguanas

The Rock iguanas are composed of three species with seven subspecies:

• Cyclura carinata
  • Bartsch’s Iguana (Cyclura carinata bartschi)
• Cyclura cyclura
  • Allen’s Cay Iguana (Cyclura cyclura inornata)
  • Exuma Cay Iguana (Cyclura cyhlura figginsi)
  • Andros Iguana (Cyclura cyclura cyclura)
• Cyclura rileyi
  • Acklin’s Iguana (Cyclura rileyi nuclalis)
  • San Salvador Iguana (Cyclura rileyi rileyi)
  • White Cay Iguana (Cyclura rileyi cristata)

​Cyclura carinata

Cyclura carnita, Photo belonging to Glen Gerber

​Populations of these iguanas are critically endangered and decreasing. They are threatened by residential and commercial development, agriculture, roadways, invasive species, and other human facilitated disturbances. They were last assessed in 2004, and their population is severely fragmented across approximately 60 islands within the Turks and Caicos islands and the Bahamas. The largest of the three core cays containing the majority of these iguanas is privately owned and under heavy development, which is likely to have detrimental impacts on the population. 

Cyclura cyclura

These iguanas are listed as vulnerable, with populations decreasing. Their threats are similar to the issues facing Cyclura carniata, and human impact is the factor contributing mostly to their decline. These iguanas are endemic to the Bahamas, which means they do not exist anywhere else in the world (beside in captivity). Their population is severely fragmented into at least 16 subpopulations, which are in habitat that is declining. The habitat used by these iguanas is being encroached upon by domesticated animals and livestock, as well as development including logging, roadways, and urbanization. This species is also hunted for food. It was last assessed in 2004, and at that time the population had been estimated to have decreased by 50% in the previous 60 years. All three subspecies are listed as Endangered.

Cyclura cychlura ssp. cychlura, Photo belonging to Charles Knapp

Cyclura cychlura inornata, Photo belonging to Charles Knapp

Cyclura cychlura figginsi, Photo belonging to Charles Knapp

Cyclura rileyi

Cyclura rileyi ssp. cristata, Photo belonging to Joe Wasilewski

Cyclura rileyi ssp. rileyi, Photo by Charles Knapp

Cyclura rileyi ssp. nuchalis, Photo belonging to Joew Wasilewski

​The populations of Cyclura rileyi  have not been assessed as a whole, however both Cyclura rileyi ssp. cristata and Cyclura rileyi ssp. rileyi are listed as critically endangered; and Cyclura rileyi ssp. nuchalis is listed as endangered. All three of these sub-species have not been asses since the year 2000 in the IUCN Red List and are severely lacking in updated information on the status of these populations.

In the Bahamas all of the Rock iguanas are protected by the Wild Animals (protection) Act, and they are all listed by CITES in Appendix 1 meaning they are near extinct or very endangered. Today it is illegal to hunt or harm any rock iguanas, and they can live up to 40 years in the wild.

Reptiles Magazine published an article in 2010 giving a quick run-down of the Cyclura sp. Which can be read here (http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Cyclura/em-Species-Rundown/)

You can read more about the Rock Iguanas in the Bahamas min their website (https://bnt.bs/wildlife/reptiles/lizards/bahamian-rock-iguana/)

IUCN Redlist profiles of the iguanas are as follows:

Cyclura carinata

• Bartsch’s Iguana (Cyclura carinata bartschi) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6026/12317199

Cyclura cyclura

• Allen’s Cay Iguana (Cyclura cyclura inornata) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6041/12360350
• Exuma Cay Iguana (Cyclura cylura figginsi)- http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/6040/0
• Andros Iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6039/12349025

Cyclura rileyi

• Acklin’s Iguana (Cyclura rileyi nuclalis) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6047/12369475
• San Salvador Iguana (Cyclura rileyi rileyi) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6048/12360803
• White Cay Iguana (Cyclura rileyi cristata) - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/6046/12358978

About the Author: Jenna is a graduate student at the University of Florida. Currently she is studying Wildlife Ecology and Conservation while working in south Florida to manage invasive animals. Jenna primarily works with the Argentine Black and White Tegu and other invasive lizards