Species Description

Ricord's Iguana. Photo: John Binns

Ricord’s Iguana is a large (SVL to 495 mm in males, 430 mm in females) iguana easily distinguished by greatly enlarged and spinose scales at each caudal verticil (tail ring) in both adults and juveniles. Color patterns vary little between individuals and consist of five to six bold grey dorsal chevrons alternating with dark grey to black chevrons, of which five continue as bold but narrow lines diagonally onto the venter. In adults, the chevrons are less contrasting than in juveniles. Crest scales along the neck are higher than those along the body.

One of two Rock Iguana species on the large island of Hispaniola, Ricord’s Iguana is restricted to four isolated subpopulations within the Dominican Republic and Haiti. They inhabit dry scrubland with sandy and earthen soils in which they excavate burrows for retreats. Due to this specialization, they have not fared well in the face of feral predators and habitat degradation.

Status: IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered C. ricordii and C. cornuta are the only sympatric forms of Cyclura, although the range of the former is much more restricted than that of the latter.

Legal Status: US Endangered Species Act – Endangered CITES – Appendix I

Distribution: Hispaniola

Distribution: Hispaniola