| Range: |
Hispaniola (in the Caribbean) |
| Habitat: |
Dry scrublands |
| Conservation Status: |
Threatened |
| Scientific Name: |
Cyclura cornuta |
One glance at the "horns" on this lizard's snout will show you how it got its name. Rhinoceros iguanas live only on the island of Hispaniola, in dry tropical scrubland. Their numbers have declined steadily since the early 1980s, partly because of habitat destruction. But they have also fallen victim to introduced predators like mongoose and feral cats, and to food competition with domestic mammals. The iguanas are also illegally collected for food and the pet trade. Their survival now depends on law enforcement and predator control.
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