Cuban ground iguana, Cuban iguana
The Cuban rock iguana (Cyclura nubila) is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the second largest of the West Indian rock iguanas, one of the most endangered groups of lizards.
The skin of male Cuban rock iguanas ranges in color from dark gray to brick red, whereas that of females is olive green with dark stripes or bands. In both sexes, limbs are black with pale brown oval spots and solid black feet. Young animals tend to be dark brown or green with faint darker striping or mottling in five to ten diagonal transverse bands on the body. These bands blend in with the body color as the iguana ages. Both sexes possess a dewlap (skin hanging below the neck) and a row of spines running down their back to their thick tail. Their heads and necks are short and stout, their teeth are solid and broad, and they have powerful jaw muscles. Their jowls, which grow larger as the animal ages, are covered in spiky protuberances called tubercles. Male Cuban rock iguanas are much larger than females, and males have enlarged femoral pores on their thighs; these pores are used to release pheromones to attract mates and mark territory.
These iguanas live in rocky coastal areas in Cuba and throughout as many as 4,000 islets surrounding the Cuban mainland, including Isla de la Juventud off the southern coast. A subspecies ( C. n. caymanensis) is found on the Cayman Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Cuban rock iguanas are found on islets along the north and south coasts and in protected areas on the mainland.
Cuban rock iguanas are diurnal ground-dwelling lizards. Males are gregarious when immature, but become more aggressive as they age, vigorously defending territories in competition for females. Females are more tolerant of each other, except after laying their eggs. Cuban rock iguanas live in burrows which they dig near cacti or thistles, sometimes even within the cactus itself. These thorny plants offer protection and their fruit and flowers offer the iguanas food. In areas without cacti, they make their burrows in dead trees, hollow logs, and limestone crevices. Cuban rock iguanas typically remain still for long periods of time and have a slow lumbering gait due to their body mass, however, they can make quick bursts of speed for short distances. Younger individuals are more arboreal and will seek refuge in trees, which they can climb with great agility. Cuban rock iguanas are good swimmers and will take to nearby water if threatened. When cornered they can bite and lash their tails in defense.
Cuban rock iguanas are primarily herbivorous (folivorous, frugivorous, graminivorous). They eat purslane, prickly pears, black mangroves, Harrisia cacti, and grasses. They may occasionally consume animal matter, and scavenge the corpses of birds, fish, and crabs.
Cuban rock iguanas breed in May and June. Females lay single clutches of 3 to 30 eggs in June or July. According to field research, females deposit their eggs at the same nesting sites each year. The nests are built in the same localities. On Cuba's Isla de la Juventud, Cuban iguanas nest in pockets of earth exposed to the sun by Cuban crocodiles, after the crocodiles' eggs have hatched. These nests are separate from where adult iguanas live. In areas without crocodiles, the iguanas excavate nests on sandy beaches. Females are known to guard their nests. When the young hatch they spend several days to 2 weeks in the nest chamber to the time they disperse from the nests.
Habitat loss and feral cats are the main threats to Cuban rock iguanas throughout the Caribbean. At Guantanamo, they consume untold numbers of baby iguanas each year.
According to the Wikipedia resource, the total population size of this species in Cuba is estimated to be 40,000-60,000 individuals. The population on Cayman Brac is less than 50 individuals and Little Cayman supports 1,500 individuals. Currently, the Cuban rock iguana is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.
