Reptiles
Cuban Iguana
Cyclura nubila · also called Cuban ground iguana
A Cuban iguana basks along a rocky offshore cay, spiny scales running the length of its back, the largest native land vertebrate left anywhere in the Caribbean. That title carries a quieter warning: much of what once shared its size and its range on the mainland is already gone, and the iguana itself now depends heavily on the relative safety of a handful of smaller, protected islands.
Overview
The Cuban iguana, Cyclura nubila, is a large, spiny-backed herbivorous lizard native to Cuba and a number of surrounding cays. Populations vary sharply between a pressured mainland and considerably healthier offshore island refuges.
A tale of two ranges
Where mainland Cuban iguana populations have declined under pressure from introduced cats and dogs, the species persists in far better numbers on protected cays largely free of those same predators, a clear illustration of how much a single introduced threat can reshape a species’ fortunes across its range.
Status
Vulnerable — declining on the mainland from habitat loss and introduced predators, while offshore cay populations remain considerably more secure.
Cuban Iguana: common questions
Why is the Cuban iguana considered so significant in the Caribbean?
The Cuban iguana is recognised as the largest surviving native land vertebrate found anywhere in the Caribbean region, a distinction that reflects both the species' own substantial size and the broader loss of other large native vertebrates across the Caribbean islands over time, making it an important remaining representative of the region's original large fauna.
Why are Cuban iguanas doing better on small offshore cays than on the mainland?
Cuban iguana populations on a number of smaller, protected offshore cays around Cuba generally benefit from reduced predation pressure, since these islands often lack the introduced predators such as feral cats and dogs that pose a significant threat to mainland populations, along with generally less habitat disturbance overall.
What predators threaten the Cuban iguana?
Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and dogs, represent a significant threat to Cuban iguana populations, especially on mainland Cuba, since the species evolved without these specific predator types present and has not developed strong natural defenses against them, making predator control an important conservation focus.
How can you identify a Cuban iguana?
A Cuban iguana can be identified by the prominent row of enlarged, spine-like scales running along its back and tail, giving it a rugged, armoured appearance, along with its generally large overall size compared with many other iguana species, reflecting its status as the largest native land vertebrate in the Caribbean.