Acklins ground iguana
| Acklins ground iguana | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Cyclura |
| Species: | C. rileyi |
| Subspecies: | C. r. nuchalis |
| Trinomial name | |
| Cyclura rileyi nuchalis Barbour and Noble, 1916 |
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Cyclura rileyi nuchalis, commonly known as the Acklins ground iguana or Watling Island iguana, is an endangered subspecies of lizard of the genus Cyclura it is one of three subspecific forms of Cyclura rileyi in the family Iguanidae.
The Acklins ground iguana is a recognized subspecies of the San Salvador Rock Iguana, recognized as such since 1975. The species is listed as endangered according to the current IUCN Red List.
Its generic name (Cyclura) is derived from the Ancient Greek cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura iguanas. Its specific name, rileyi, is a Latinized form of the name of American biologist, Joseph Harvey Riley. Its subspecific name,nuchalis, is Latin for "neck" in reference to the thick scalation around the animal's neck.
The Acklins ground iguana strongly resembles the San Salvador rock iguana in color and shape. The lizard's back color can range from red, orange or yellow, to green, brown or grey, usually patterned by darker markings. The very brightest colors (red, orange or yellow) are normally only displayed by males and are more pronounced which at warmer body temperatures. Immature iguanas lack these bright colors, being either solid brown or grey with faint slightly darker stripes. What makes this iguana stand out from the other two subspecies is the scalation on its neck and head.
This subspecies, like other members of Cyclura, is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and have more prominent dorsal crests as well as larger femoral pores on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones.
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