Herptiles

Iguana delicatissima

Lesser Antillean Iguana

Iguana delicatissima (Laurenti, 1768)
Critically Endangered (IUCN)

Basic info

Common names
  • Lesser Antillean Iguana
  • West Indian iguana
Species nameIguana delicatissima
Scientific nameIguana delicatissima Laurenti, 1768
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Squamata
Iguanidae
Iguana delicatissima
Max SVL 15.7 inch

Further Reading

Temperatures & Season

Day time temperatures

Background summer30 - 35 °F
Background winter28 - 32 °F
Basking spot40 - 50 °F

Night time temperatures

Background summer25 - 28 °F
Background winter23 - 25 °F

Season

Photoperiod summer13 hours
Photoperiod winter11 hours

Microhabitats

Microhabitats are specific small habitats that an organism inhabits within its broader environment. These can vary greatly depending on the species and can give us insights into the preferred living conditions of each reptile. Understanding these microhabitats can be key to providing the correct care for these animals in captivity.

  • Sa
    Semi-arboreal
  • Ar
    Arboreal

Ferguson Zones

Ferguson Zones are a way to classify the amount of UV light that reptiles are exposed to in their natural habitats. These zones help us understand and replicate their natural light conditions in captivity, promoting the health and wellbeing of the reptiles. Below, we detail the specific Ferguson Zones of the Chinese Water Dragon, along with recommendations for replicating these conditions

The Ferguson Zone in which the Lesser Antillean Iguana has been placed has been chosen based upon an assessment of its typical basking behaviour and likely microhabitat in the wild.

4
'Mid-day' open sun baskers
UVI range avarage: 2.6-3.5, UVI max recorded: 4.5-9.5

Recommended lighting methods in captivity

Sunbeam method

This method uses the 'Max UVI Recorded' value as a guide for the upper limit of the UVB gradient in captivity. This maximum should be the highest level which a Lesser Antillean Iguana can obtain at its closest approach to its UVB lamp. The highlighted area in the table below represents this range for the Lesser Antillean Iguana.

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More in-depth information about Ferguson zones can be found here: https://jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150

Community collected distribution (386 occurrences)

Biomes

These are the biomes the Lesser Antillean Iguana was found in. Click here to learn more about terrestrial ecoregions and biomes.

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References

  1. Baines, F.M., Chattell, J., Dale, J., Garrick, D., Gill, I., Goetz, M., Skelton, T. and Swatman, M. 2016. How much UVB does my reptile need? The UV-Tool, a guide to the selection of UV lighting for reptiles and amphibians in captivity. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2016), 42–63. DOI:https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v4i1.150.
  2. Iguana delicatissima Laurenti, 1768 in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org
  3. Laurenti, J. N. Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austracorum, quod authoritate et consensu.
  4. Blackwell, Publishing & Ltd, & Meiri, Shai. (2008). Evolution and ecology of lizard body sizes. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 17. 724-. 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00414.x.
  5. iNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org
This website is created by Jefrim Keijzer | All species