    These things are everywhere and for the most part display little fear or concern regarding human interaction. I suspect the lackadaisical mentally stems from their comprehension, they are a protected species and $10,000 fines allocated for anyone harming them. Although believed to be herbivore by nature, some have been known to dine on McDonald’s cheese burgers provided by local population. Yes, I am fully aware this is illegal and no, I have yet to feed one. Besides providing a curiosity they can be an annoying traffic hazard. It’s not uncommon to witness the larger ones “sunning themselves” in the middle of the street while refusing to allow traffic to pass. Technically, the only legal recourse is to exit your vehicle and “gently” coax the cold-blooded pain in the ass to move on. Times like this, I am thoroughly tempted to find out if they really do “taste like chicken.”
The Cuban iguana reaches a very large adult size, with a mean SVL of 405mm for males and 320mm for females. This subspecies is usually gray in color, stippled or mottled with tan, and has a tan head and tail. Adults are somewhat greenish in color and may be stippled with yellow. The juvenile pattern consists of a series of five to ten pale chevrons which expand mid-dorsally to give a longitudinal series of subcircular or subrectangular pale blotches. Between the pale dorsal chevrons are black chevrons which form the margins of the lateral pale pattern. In adults, a conspicuous feature is very high dorsal crest scales (Schwartz and Carey 1977).
Not many decades ago, the subspecies was extremely widespread on Cuba. However, populations on the mainland have decreased dramatically or disappeared entirely in most areas since the end of the last century. On many islets, populations are still relatively safe, but this situation is changing with the transformation of many islets for tourist developments. Nevertheless, if strictly protected areas on the mainland and islets continue to remain untouched, 60 to 80% of the remaining population will probably be safe. Any population analyses should be carried out with two distinct components: one for populations living on the mainland, and one for populations inhabiting small islands and islets.
Subpopulations of the Cuban iguana show great variation in density according to habitat quality and level of protection. On three natural, undisturbed islets, Perera (1985b) found densities of 25.01/ha; 9.64/ha, and 4.42/ha. V. Berovides found densities of 7.7l/ha and H. González found densities of between 9 and 11/ha on Cayo Rosario. Those authors estimate the total population of Cayo Rosario to be 10,000 individuals. Recently, V. Berovides (personal communication) found a density of 40/ha on a rocky islet. The total population of this subspecies in Cuba is estimated at between 40,000 and 60,000 individuals.
The population is declining, more quickly on the mainland than in other areas. Most disturbing is the rapidity of the loss of this subspecies in disturbed areas. Iguanas are now absent from the northeastern Havana coast, the Hicacos peninsula, and Key Largo, where they were known to be very abundant some 30-40 years ago. Whereas habitat transformation and disturbance on the mainland seem to be responsible for local extinctions, populations appear stable on many untouched islands and islets. Mainland populations have probably been declining at a rate of greater than 1% per year for the last ten years, primarily as a result of habitat alteration and interactions with domestic and feral introduced species, including cats, dogs, and pigs. |
