Andros Iguana

Cyclura cychlura cychlura

The Andros iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) is the Andros Island form of the northern Bahamian rock iguana, a large ground-dwelling lizard found in the Bahamas. It has the heavy head, strong limbs, spiny dorsal crest, and blunt snout typical of Cyclura iguanas, with males generally larger and more territorial than females. These iguanas use dry forest, coppice, coastal scrub, and nearby open areas, feeding mostly on leaves, flowers, fruit, and other plant material.

This is a protected island reptile, not a casual pet-trade animal. Conservation work deals with habitat loss, illegal collection, road deaths, and predation or nest damage from introduced mammals such as cats, dogs, and pigs. Zoos and specialist reptile facilities that keep Cyclura need large secure enclosures, strong basking heat, ultraviolet light or natural sun, high-fiber plant diets, and nesting areas with suitable substrate. Breeding or transfers should maintain locality information because island iguanas can have small, genetically distinct populations.