Background

Ctenosaura melanosterna, commonly known as the black-chested spiny-tailed iguana or Honduran spinytailed iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae that is considered critically endangered[1]

Threats

There are a few reasons why this species is critically endangered, but the main threat is caused by human activity.[1] Some of these threats are from hunting, trading, and habitat destruction and fragmentation.[1][2] The natural habitat of the Ctenosaura melanosterna are being destroyed by big corporations like the Dole Fruit Company.[1] The Ctenosaura melanosterna are being pushed out of their habitat because their resources are being degraded, causing environmental changes that affect the sustainability of these iguanas[1][2] .

Ctenosaura melanosterna
Black-chested spiny-tailed iguana
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[4]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Ctenosaura
Species:
C. melanosterna
Binomial name
Ctenosaura melanosterna
Buckley & Axtell, 1997

Geographic range

It is endemic to Honduras, in both the mainland and two of the Cayos Cochinos islands off its Caribbean coast.

Habitat

The black-chested spiny-tailed iguana lives in a terrestrial system.[1] The natural habitat of this iguana is a subtropical or tropical dry forest, as well as scrubland.[2]

Conservation status

Ctenosaura melanosterna is mainly endangered by human activities, as humans poach these iguanas and their eggs for consumption (Montgomery et al. 2014).[5] The Green iguana is also much more numerous throughout Central America, making it a competitor for food and resources.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Ctenosaura melanosterna". IUCN. February 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Pasachnik, Stesha A.; Montgomery, Chad E.; Ruyle, Leslie E.; Corneal, Jeffrey P.; Antunez, Edoardo E. (31 December 2012). "Morphological and Demographic Analyses of the Blackchested Spiney-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura melanosterna, Across Their Range: Implications for Population Level Management". Herpetogical Biology and Conservation. 7 (3): 399–406.
  3. ^ Pasachnik, S.; Montgomery, C.E.; Henningheim, E. (2012). "Ctenosaura melanosterna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T44189A14857036. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T44189A14857036.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Appendices". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  5. ^ Montgomery, Chad E., S. A. Pasaschnik, L. E. Ruyle, J. A. Frazier, and S. E. W. Green. 2014. Natural History of the Black-Chested Spiny-Tailed Iguanas, Ctenosaura melanosterna (Igunaidae), on Cayo Cochino Menor, Honduras. The Southwestern Naturalist 59:280–285.

Further reading

Wikispecies has information related to Ctenosaura melanosterna.


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