Lesser Antilles Iguana Project

Chuck Knapp, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at CRES, is working to establish a comparative ecological study of Lesser Antilles iguanas in disturbed and undisturbed habitats on Dominica, the species stronghold. Lesser Antilles iguanas are native to most islands in the Northern Lesser Antilles and, like other Caribbean iguanas, are threatened by humans and their domestic animals. In addition, Lesser Antilles iguanas are threatened by competition and possibly introgression with introduced common iguanas, native to the Southern Lesser Antilles and Central and South America. Thus, CRES is also studying interactions between Lesser Antilles and common iguanas in regions where the two species are found in close contact.

Extinctions of Lesser Antilles iguanas have already occurred on several large islands, and many of the remaining populations have been significantly reduced. Thus, a major goal of this work is the development of conservation and management strategies that can be applied to Lesser Antilles iguanas and their habitats across their range.

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Caribbean Iguana Recovery Program
Turks and Caicos Iguana Project
Anegada Iguana Project
Bahamas Iguana Project
Animal Bytes: Iguana