FaunaHub
CRCritically EndangeredPartial review

Jamaican Iguana

Cyclura collei

Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei), a stocky grey-green rock iguana.

Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei).

Image: Simon Tonge, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
CR · Critically Endangered
Animal group
Reptiles & Amphibians
Population trend
Increasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The Jamaican iguana is a large lizard once believed extinct, rediscovered in 1990. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.

It survives in a single dry-forest area and is supported by a head-start breeding programme.

Range & habitat

The Hellshire Hills of Jamaica.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Introduced predators (mongooses, cats, dogs, pigs)
  • Habitat loss
  • A tiny range

Why it matters

A 'Lazarus' reptile brought back from presumed extinction, the Jamaican iguana is a flagship for Caribbean island conservation and predator control.

Once thought extinct; rediscovered in 1990.

Gallery

A historical illustration of a Jamaican iguana's head.

Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei); a historical illustration (1848).

Image: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Jamaican Iguana

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Jamaican iguana really rediscovered?
Yes. It was thought extinct for much of the 20th century until a small population was found in the Hellshire Hills in 1990, prompting an intensive recovery programme.
Why is the Jamaican iguana Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite introduced predators such as mongooses, habitat loss, and its tiny range, even as careful management helps numbers recover. See the IUCN Red List.

Last updated: