Cyclura cychlura figginsi
| Exuma Island iguana | |
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| Exuma Island iguana | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Cyclura |
| Species: | C. cychlura |
| Subspecies: | C. c. figginsi |
| Trinomial name | |
| Cyclura cychlura figginsi Barbour, 1923 |
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The Exuma Island iguana (Cyclura cychlura figginsi) is a critically endangered subspecies of northern Bahamian rock iguana that is found on the Exuma island chain in the Bahamas with a wild population of 1,300 animals, it is listed on the IUCN Red List.
The Exuma Island iguana, Cyclura cychlura figginsi, is endemic to the Exuma Cays, it is a subspecies of the northern Bahamian rock iguana (Cyclura cychlura). Its generic and specific names (Cyclura) and (Cychlura) are derived from the Ancient Greek cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all Cyclura. Its subspecific name is a Latinized version of American biologist J.D. Figgins' last name.
The Exuma Island iguana is the smallest of the three subspecies of C. cychlura. It attains a total length of close to 1 m (3.3 ft). Its coloration is dark-gray to black, with white or orange tinged scales on the head and snout depending upon which cay the iguana is from.
This species, like other species 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.
This subspecies is found on at least seven small cays throughout the central and southern Exuma island chain of the Bahamas: Bitter Guana Cay, Gaulin Cay, White Bay Cay, Noddy Cay, North Adderly Cay, Leaf Cay, and Guana Cay. The entire population on Leaf Cay was translocated to Pasture Cay in 2002. The Exuma Island iguana utilizes a variety of habitats from sandy beaches and xeric limestone devoid of vegetation to dry forests. The iguanas use limestone crevices or sand burrows for retreats at night and in adverse weather conditions.
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