CR

Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura bakeri

Declining

Overview

Ctenosaura bakeri, also known as the Utila spiny-tailed iguana, Baker's spinytail iguana, swamper or wishiwilly del suampo, is a critically endangered species of spinytail iguana endemic to the island of Utila, one of the Islas de la Bahía off the coast of Honduras in the Caribbean.

Ctenosaura bakeri faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on Utila Island. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to introduced predators, especially feral cats and dogs that prey on juveniles and eggs. Tourism development and associated infrastructure construction continue to fragment the remaining mangrove and coastal forest habitats essential for this endemic iguana's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered iguana is endemic to Utila Island in Honduras, inhabiting coastal mangrove swamps, tropical dry forests, and adjacent scrubland areas. The species requires both terrestrial nesting sites and access to mangrove root systems for foraging and shelter.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical mangrove vegetation· majorMarine oceanic· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationFormal educationAwareness & communicationsLegislationCompliance and enforcementLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana classified as Critically Endangered?
Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana 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. Ctenosaura bakeri faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on Utila Island. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to introduced predators, especially feral cats and dogs that prey on juveniles and eggs. Tourism development and associated infrastructure construction continue to fragment the remaining mangrove and coastal forest habitats essential for this endemic iguana's survival.
Where does Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana live?
Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana occurs in Honduras. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana?
The main threats to Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana are 1.1, 2.1, 2.3, and 4.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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