CR

Iguana delicatissima

Declining

Overview

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

The Lesser Antillean Iguana faces severe population decline primarily due to hybridization with the introduced Common Green Iguana (Iguana iguana), which threatens the genetic integrity of the species. Habitat destruction from coastal development and agriculture has eliminated much of its native dry forest habitat across the Caribbean islands. Hunting pressure for food and the pet trade, combined with predation by introduced mammals like cats and dogs, further compounds population losses.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Lesser Antillean Iguana inhabits dry coastal forests, scrublands, and rocky areas across several Caribbean islands including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia. It prefers areas with dense canopy cover for thermoregulation and nesting sites, typically found from sea level to elevations of 300 meters.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· majorShrubland· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorDesert· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in IGUANIDAE

VU

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Declining
EN

Lau Banded Iguana

Brachylophus fasciatus

Declining
VU

Conolophus subcristatus

Declining
CR

Cyclura stejnegeri

Increasing

Threatened in Anguilla

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
EN

Anguilla Bank Skink

Spondylurus powelli

Declining
EN

Alsophis rijgersmaei

Declining
EN

Censky's Ameiva

Pholidoscelis corax

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Iguana delicatissima classified as Critically Endangered?
Iguana delicatissima 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. The Lesser Antillean Iguana faces severe population decline primarily due to hybridization with the introduced Common Green Iguana (Iguana iguana), which threatens the genetic integrity of the species. Habitat destruction from coastal development and agriculture has eliminated much of its native dry forest habitat across the Caribbean islands. Hunting pressure for food and the pet trade, combined with predation by introduced mammals like cats and dogs, further compounds population losses.
Where does Iguana delicatissima live?
Iguana delicatissima occurs in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean Netherlands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Netherlands (plus 1 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Iguana delicatissima?
The main threats to Iguana delicatissima are 11.4, 2.1, 4.1, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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