Mona ground iguana
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The Mona Ground Iguana is an endemic reptile of the Mona Island, Puerto Rico. It is the largest terrestrial lizard in Puerto Rico.
General Description
Mona Ground Iguanas are prehistoric looking lizards capable of reaching 4 ft. in length (from snout to tail). They have small horns located in its snout [1]. Their color is generally olive to olive gray with slight brown or blue colorations. Juveniles differ from adults in that they have gray transversal bands throught their bodies. These bands lasts approximately until they are 3 years old.
Mona Ground Iguanas are diurnal and spend most of the day basking in the sun conversing energy.
Habitat
Mona Ground Iguanas are endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico. They are scattered throught the entire island. They live a large portion of their lives underground and are usually found in talus slopes, caves and sinkhole depressions. The average depth underground that they can be found is 1.5m.
Reproduction
Although Mona Ground Iguana's use the whole island as habitat only 1% of the territory is suitable for nesting. Nesting season begins in the second week of June. Usually one female mates with more than one male in the 2 weeks that the mating season lasts. Copulation may last from 15 seconds to 2 minutes and 15 seconds. One month later nesting begins. Females will dig a 3 foot long tunnel located 1-2 feet underground where they deposit from 5 to 19 eggs, with 12 being the average. They will guard the nest for several days but they will not provide parental care for the hatchlings which hatch three months later. Hatchlings measure, on average, 32cm and weigh 73.7 grams.
Males reach sexual maturity at a size of 28-31cm in length from snout-vent, usually in their third to fourth year while females mature one year later and at a size of 35-40cm.
Diet
Mona Ground Iguanas, as all cyclura iguanas, are omnivorous animals. Less than a dozen animal species and 71 plant species are found in the iguanas' diet [2]. Fruits are the preferred and most important source of food.