Corn Island Anole
CR

Corn Island Anole

Anolis villai

Declining

Photo: (c) John G. Phillips, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John G. Phillips

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Anolis villai faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in the Dominican Republic. Urban development and infrastructure projects have fragmented the remaining forest patches where this endemic anole survives. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, with even small-scale clearing activities potentially eliminating entire subpopulations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered anole inhabits humid montane forests and forest edges in the Dominican Republic, typically found in areas with dense canopy cover and abundant vegetation for foraging and shelter. The species appears to prefer mid-elevation forest zones with suitable microhabitats for thermoregulation and prey availability.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

Other threatened species in ANOLIDAE

EN

Black-throated Stout Anole

Anolis armouri

Unknown
Bay Islands AnoleCR

Bay Islands Anole

Anolis bicaorum

Stable
EN

Pineland Bush Anole

Anolis inexpectatus

Unknown
CR

Marmelade Anole

Anolis rimarum

Declining

Threatened in Nicaragua

EN

Baird's Tapir

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Berberis johnstonii

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Humped BladderwortCR

Humped Bladderwort

Utricularia gibba

Unknown
VU

Crax rubra

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Corn Island Anole classified as Critically Endangered?
Corn Island Anole is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Anolis villai faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its extremely limited range in the Dominican Republic. Urban development and infrastructure projects have fragmented the remaining forest patches where this endemic anole survives. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss, with even small-scale clearing activities potentially eliminating entire subpopulations.
Where does Corn Island Anole live?
Corn Island Anole occurs in Nicaragua. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Corn Island Anole?
The main threats to Corn Island Anole are 1.1, 2.1, 5.3, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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