Head to head
Jamaican Iguana vs Cuban Iguana
Jamaican Iguana
VS Cuban Iguana
The Jamaican iguana and Cuban iguana are two rock iguanas in the genus Cyclura, large Caribbean lizards that dig burrows and feed on plants.
| Jamaican Iguana | Cuban Iguana | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cyclura collei | Cyclura nubila |
| Size and look | A large, blue-grey to olive iguana with a row of spines along the back and a heavy head | The largest surviving native land vertebrate in the Caribbean, with a prominent row of spine-like scales along the back and tail |
| Diet | The leaves, fruit, and flowers of dry-forest plants, with a little animal matter | Mainly leaves, flowers, and fruit, with small invertebrates or carrion occasionally |
| Nesting | Females lay eggs in shallow soil in pockets among limestone rock, which are scarce and sometimes shared by many females | Females dig burrows in sandy or loose soil for nesting, and the eggs incubate in naturally warm soil |
| Threats | Young iguanas were eaten by mongooses, feral cats, and dogs, which almost wiped out the species | Feral cats and dogs threaten it, especially on the mainland, since it evolved without such predators |
| Range | Only the Hellshire Hills of southern Jamaica | Cuba and a number of surrounding cays and islets |
| Recovery | Rediscovered in 1990 after being feared extinct, and a head-start programme raises young iguanas for release | Populations on smaller, protected offshore cays are healthier than those on the Cuban mainland |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered, though increasing | Vulnerable |
Jamaican Iguana vs Cuban Iguana: common questions
Which iguana was thought to be extinct?
The Jamaican iguana, which was believed extinct until a wild boar hunter caught one in the Hellshire Hills in 1990.
Which is the largest Caribbean land vertebrate?
The Cuban iguana, the largest surviving native land vertebrate found anywhere in the Caribbean region.
What is a head-start programme?
Young iguanas are raised in protected enclosures until they are large enough to survive predators, then released into the wild.