Fiji banded iguana

Last updated

Fiji banded iguana
Fiji banded iguana in Vienna Zoo on 2013-05-12.png
Fiji banded iguana (male) in captivity
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Brachylophus
Species:B. fasciatus
Binomial name
Brachylophus fasciatus
(Brongniart, 1800)
Brachylophus fasciatus distribution.png

The Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus) is an arboreal species of lizard endemic to some of the southeastern Fijian islands. It is found in Tonga, where it was probably introduced by humans. [2] It is one of the few species of iguanas found outside of the New World and one of the most geographically isolated members of the family Iguanidae. [3] Populations of these iguanas have been declining over the past century due to habitat destruction, and more significantly, the introduction of mongoose and house cats to the islands. [3]

In biology, a species ( ) is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. Other ways of defining species include their karyotype, DNA sequence, morphology, behaviour or ecological niche. In addition, paleontologists use the concept of the chronospecies since fossil reproduction cannot be examined. While these definitions may seem adequate, when looked at more closely they represent problematic species concepts. For example, the boundaries between closely related species become unclear with hybridisation, in a species complex of hundreds of similar microspecies, and in a ring species. Also, among organisms that reproduce only asexually, the concept of a reproductive species breaks down, and each clone is potentially a microspecies.

Lizard suborder of reptiles

Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 6,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic as it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia; some lizards are more closely related to these two excluded groups than they are to other lizards. Lizards range in size from chameleons and geckos a few centimeters long to the 3 meter long Komodo dragon.

Fiji country in Oceania

Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec Islands to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island is Ono-i-Lau. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the total population of 898,760. The capital, Suva, on Viti Levu, serves as the country's principal cruise-ship port. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centres such as Nadi—where tourism is the major local industry—or Lautoka, where the sugar-cane industry is paramount. Due to its terrain, the interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited.

Contents

The species is diurnal, spending their days foraging, basking and watching over their territories by day and retreating to the treetops at night. Fiji iguanas are considered a national treasure by the government of Fiji, and its likeness has been featured on postage stamps, currency, and phone book covers.

Diurnality animal behavior characterized by activity during the day, with a period of sleeping, or other inactivity, at night

Diurnality is a form of plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The common adjective used for daytime activity is "diurnal." The timing of activity by an animal depends on a variety of environmental factors such as the temperature, the ability to gather food by sight, the risk of predation, and the time of year. Diurnality is a cycle of activity within a 24-hour period; cyclic activities called circadian rhythms are endogenous cycles not dependent on external cues or environmental factors. Animals active during twilight are crepuscular, those active during the night are nocturnal, and animals active at sporadic times during both night and day are cathemeral.

Postage stamp small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage, who then affix the stamp to the face or address-side of any item of mail—an envelope or other postal cover —that they wish to send. The item is then processed by the postal system, where a postmark or cancellation mark—in modern usage indicating date and point of origin of mailing—is applied to the stamp and its left and right sides to prevent its reuse. The item is then delivered to its addressee.

A currency, in the most specific use of the word, refers to money in any form when in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, especially circulating banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a system of money in common use, especially for people in a nation. Under this definition, US dollars (US$), pounds sterling (£), Australian dollars (A$), European euros (€), Russian rubles (₽) and Indian Rupees (₹) are examples of currency. These various currencies are recognized as stores of value and are traded between nations in foreign exchange markets, which determine the relative values of the different currencies. Currencies in this sense are defined by governments, and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance.

Taxonomy and etymology

This species was first described by French zoologist Alexandre Brongniart in 1800. [4] The generic name, Brachylophus, is derived from two Greek words: brachys (βραχύς) meaning "short" and lophos (λόφος) meaning "crest" or "plume", denoting the short spiny crests along the back of this species. The specific name, fasciatus, is a Latin word meaning "banded".

Alexandre Brongniart French chemist, mineralogist, and zoologist (1770–1847)

Alexandre Brongniart was a French chemist, mineralogist, and zoologist, who collaborated with Georges Cuvier on a study of the geology of the region around Paris.

A genus is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, as well as viruses, in biology. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.

Latin Indo-European language of the Italic family

Latin is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. The Latin alphabet is derived from the Etruscan and Greek alphabets and ultimately from the Phoenician alphabet.

This species is closely related to the Fiji crested iguana and B. bulabula . The genus Brachylophus is thought to be descended from ancestors that rafted 9,000 kilometres (5,600 mi) west across the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, where their closest relatives are found. [5] [6] It has also been suggested that they descended from a more widespread lineage of (now extinct) Old World iguanids that diverged from their New World relatives in the Paleogene. [7] However, no other members of the putative lineage, living or fossil, have been found outside Fiji and Tonga.

Fiji crested iguana species of reptile

The Fiji crested iguana or Fijian crested iguana is a critically endangered species of iguana native to some of the northwestern islands of the Fijiian archipelago, where it is found in dry forest.

<i>Brachylophus bulabula</i> species of reptile

Brachylophus bulabula is a species of iguanid lizard endemic to some of the larger central and northwestern islands of Fiji, where it occurs in Fijian wet forest. It was described by a team led by a scientist from the Australian National University in 2008. It is one of the few species of iguana found outside of the New World and one of the most geographically isolated members of the family Iguanidae. Initially also reported from Gau Island, in 2017 this population was described as a separate species, B. gau.

Oceanic dispersal is a type of biological dispersal that occurs when terrestrial organisms transfer from one land mass to another by way of a sea crossing. Often this occurs via large rafts of floating vegetation such as are sometimes seen floating down major rivers in the tropics and washing out to sea, occasionally with animals trapped on them. Dispersal via such a raft is sometimes referred to as a rafting event.

Distribution and habitat

The Fiji banded iguana is endemic to the Fiji Islands and is found on the islands of Wakaya, Moturiki, Beqa, Vatulele, Ono, Dravuni, Taveuni, Nggamea, Vanua, Balavu, Avea (Fiji), Vatu Vara, Lakeba, Aiwa, Oneata, Vanua Levu, Totoya, Kabara, and Fulaga. [2] [8] It was introduced to the Tonga Islands, New Hebrides, and Wallis and Futuna 300 years ago. [8] It has been introduced to Vanuatu as a feral animal in the 1960s. [9] The current wild population is less than 10,000 individuals in 29 distinct subpopulations. [3] Fiji banded iguanas inhabit most of the undisturbed habitats on these islands, from high cloud forests to low-lying coastal swamps. [3]

Wakaya is a privately owned island in Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.65° South and 179.02° East, it covers an area of eight square kilometres. It is 18 kilometres from Ovalau, the main island in the Lomaiviti Group.

Moturiki is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Covering an area of 10.4 square kilometers, it is situated at 17.45° South and 178.44° East.

Beqa Island in Viti Levu Group, Fiji

Beqa is an island in Fiji, an outlier to the main island of Viti Levu, 10 kilometres to the south. The island has a land area of 36 square kilometres and reaches a maximum altitude of 462 metres. Beqa has 9 villages broken into 2 Tikinas or Districts: Sawau and Raviravi.

Description

Close-up of a male Fiji banded iguana. Fiji Banded Iguana.jpg
Close-up of a male Fiji banded iguana.

Sexually dimorphic, males have two or three white or pale-blue bands 2 centimetres (0.79 in) wide crossing their emerald green background with a pattern of spots and stripes on the nuchal region. [3] Females, on the other hand, are solid green with occasional spotting or partial bands. [3] Both sexes have a yellow underside. [9] Fiji banded iguanas reach 60 centimetres (24 in) in length when measured from snout to tail tip and bodyweights of up to 200 grams (0.44 lb). [3] The crests of these iguanas are very short reaching a length of 0.5 centimetres (0.20 in). [3]

Neck part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk

The neck is the part of the body, on many vertebrates, that separates the head from the torso. It contains blood vessels and nerves that supply structures in the head to the body. These in humans include part of the esophagus, the larynx, trachea, and thyroid gland, major blood vessels including the carotid arteries and jugular veins, and the top part of the spinal cord.

Although there appear to be slight variations between insular populations, none have been well-described. [3] The animals from Tonga are smaller and leaner, and were previously described as B. brevicephalus. [3]

The skin of this species is sensitive to light and the lizard can change its skin color to match its background. [9] Captive specimens have been observed matching the pattern left by the screen tops of their cages in as little as 30 seconds. [9]

Behavior

The species is diurnal, spending their days foraging, basking and watching over their territories by day and retreating to the treetops at night. [3] Male iguanas are highly visual, and aggressively defend their territories from rival males. [10] The iguanas will deepen their green coloration to intensify their bands, and bob their heads and intimidate intruders by lunging at them with open mouths. [10] They often expand and flare their dewlaps to increase the size of their profile, following up with violent battles amongst each other. [10]

Diet

Fiji banded iguanas are herbivorous,they feed on the leaves, fruit, and flowers of trees and shrubs, particularly hibiscus flowers of the Vau tree ( Hibiscus tiliaceus ) and fruit such as banana and papaya. [9] Captive hatchlings have been observed eating insects; however, adults usually will not. [9]

Reproduction

Courtship is similar to other iguanids, with males approaching and tongue flicking the female's back, forelimbs and nuchal regions after a series of rapid head bobs. The breeding season occurs during the month of November. [8] The Fiji banded iguana is oviparous and has a long incubation period of 160–170 days. [8] Females guard the nest of three to six eggs, which is unusual for iguanids. [8] Hatchlings emerge from their eggs in the rainy season and obtain moisture by licking wet leaves. [8]

Relations with humans

Folklore

The Fijian name for iguana is "vokai", although some tribes call it "saumuri". [8] Two tribes regard the iguana as their totem and as such its name is not allowed to be mentioned in the presence of women or the offender may be beaten with a stick. [8] The majority of Fijians, however, are terrified of iguanas because of their behavior when threatened. [8] On such occasions, an iguana turns black, opens its mouth and lunges at attackers. [8]

Threats

The biggest threats this iguana faces is habitat loss due to fires, storms, agricultural development, and competition from feral goats. [8] A secondary threat is introduced predators in the forms of rats, mongoose, and cats which prey on the iguanas and their eggs. [8] Additionally the iguana has been hunted as a food source and for the illegal exotic animal trade.

Captivity

Since 1982 the Fijian government has maintained that the entire zoo population of Fiji banded iguanas was obtained illegally or descended from smuggled animals: "Virtually all of the estimated 50–100 banded iguanas in American zoos have been obtained without the knowledge or consent of the Government of Fiji". [8] [9] The husbandry of Fiji banded iguanas at the San Diego Zoo has been documented as the most successful breeding colony of Fiji banded iguanas in the world. [3]

Related Research Articles

Iguanidae family of reptiles

The Iguanidae are a family of lizards composed of iguanas and related species.

Mona ground iguana Muy parecido a Demián

The Mona ground iguana is a species of Cyclura closely related to the rhinoceros iguana. It is endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico and is the largest native terrestrial lizard in Puerto Rico.

Jamaican iguana species of reptile

The Jamaican iguana is a large species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. The species is endemic to Jamaica. It is the largest native land animal in Jamaica, and is critically endangered, even considered extinct between 1948 and 1990. Once found throughout Jamaica and on the offshore islets Great Goat Island and Little Goat Island, it is now confined to the forests of the Hellshire Hills.

Rhinoceros iguana species of reptile

The rhinoceros iguana is a threatened species of lizard in the family Iguanidae that is primarily found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, shared by the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They vary in length from 60 to 136 centimetres and skin colours range from a steely grey to a dark green and even brown. Their name derives from the bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth which resembles the horn of a rhinoceros on the iguana's snout.

<i>Ctenosaura bakeri</i> species of reptile

Ctenosaura bakeri, also known as the Utila 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.

<i>Cyclura nubila</i> species of reptile

The Cuban rock iguana, also known as the Cuban ground iguana or Cuban iguana, is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas, one of the most endangered groups of lizards. This herbivorous species with red eyes, a thick tail, and spiked jowls is one of the largest lizards in the Caribbean.

The Navassa Island iguana was a subspecies of rhinoceros iguana that was found on the Caribbean island of Navassa. It is "undoubtedly" extinct.

<i>Cyclura nubila caymanensis</i> subspecies of reptile

The Lesser Caymans iguana, also known as the Cayman Brac iguana, Cayman Island brown iguana or Sister Isles iguana, is a critically endangered subspecies of the Cuban iguana. It is native to two islands to the south of Cuba: Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are also known as the Sister Isles due to their similar shapes and close proximity to each other. This subspecies is in decline due to habitat encroachment by human development and predation by feral dogs and cats. It is nearly extinct on Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman supports a population of about 1,500 animals.

<i>Cyclura cychlura inornata</i> subspecies of reptile

The Allen Cays rock iguana or Allen Cays iguana is an endangered subspecies of the northern Bahamian rock iguana that is found on Allen's Cay in the Bahamas. Its status is Endangered, with a wild population of 1,000 animals, and it can be found on the IUCN Red List.

<i>Cyclura</i> genus of reptiles

Cyclura is a genus of lizards in the family Iguanidae. Member species of this genus are commonly known as "cycluras" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies. Rock iguanas have a high degree of endemism, with a single species or subspecies restricted to individual islands.

<i>Ctenosaura hemilopha</i> species of reptile

Ctenosaura hemilopha, also known as the cape spinytail iguana , is a species of spinytail iguana endemic to Baja California. It is arboreal and primarily herbivorous, although it can be an opportunistic carnivore. Males may grow up to 100 centimeters (39 in) in length, while females are smaller, with a length of up to 70 centimeters (28 in). Five subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Cyclura pinguis</i> species of reptile

The Anegada ground iguana or stout iguana is a critically endangered species of lizard of the genus Cyclura belonging to the family Iguanidae. The species can be found exclusively in the islands of Anegada and Guana. Historically, it inhabited the islands of Puerto Rico and Saint Thomas, however, the animal's original range has been greatly diminished.

<i>Lapitiguana</i> genus of reptiles

Lapitiguana impensa is an extinct giant iguanid from Fiji. It probably became extinct following the human colonization of Fiji 3000 years ago.

<i>Oplurus cuvieri</i> species of reptile

Oplurus cuvieri, commonly known as the collared iguanid lizard, collared iguana, Madagascan collared iguana, or Cuvier's Madagascar swift, is a species of arboreal Malagasy iguana, the largest of six species in the genus Oplurus.

<i>Brachylophus gibbonsi</i> species of reptile

Brachylophus gibbonsi is an extinct species of large iguanid lizard from Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean. Its remains have been found associated with cultural sites on Lifuka, four other islands in the Haʻapai group, and Tongatapu. It was consumed by the early Tongans and probably became extinct within a century of human colonization of the archipelago 2800 years ago.

Green iguana species of reptile

The green iguana, also known as the American iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. It is native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area, from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico and the Caribbean islands. They have been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and are very common throughout the island, where they are colloquially known as gallina de palo and considered an invasive species; in the United States feral populations also exist in South Florida, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Gau iguana species of reptile

The Gau iguana is a species of iguana endemic to Gau Island in the Fijian archipelago. It mostly lives in the well-preserved upland forests of the island, with smaller populations in the degraded coastal forests. It can be distinguished from other South Pacific iguanas by the male's distinctive color pattern and solid green throat. It is also the smallest of all South Pacific iguanas, being about 13% smaller than the third smallest species and 40% smaller than the largest extant species.

References

  1. ↑ Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group (1996). "Brachylophus fasciatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature . Retrieved 28 Sep 2010.
  2. 1 2 Keogh, J. Scott; Edwards, Danielle L.; Fisher, Robert N.; Harlow, Peter S. (2008-10-27). "Molecular and morphological analysis of the critically endangered Fijian iguanas reveals cryptic diversity and a complex biogeographic history". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B . Royal Society. 363 (1508): 3413–3426. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0120. PMC   2607380  Lock-green.svg. PMID   18782726.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kinkaid, John (1997). "Iguanas of the South Pacific". Reptiles. 5 (8): 54–57.
  4. ↑ Brongniart,Alexandre. (1800). Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles. Bull. Soc. Philomath. 2 (36): 89–91
  5. ↑ Cogger, Harold (1974). "Voyage of the Banded Iguana". Australia Natural History. 18 (4): 144–149.
  6. ↑ Gibbons, J. R. H. (Jul 31, 1981). "The Biogeography of Brachylophus (Iguanidae) including the Description of a New Species, B. vitiensis, from Fiji". Journal of Herpetology. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 15 (3): 255–273. doi:10.2307/1563429. JSTOR   1563429.
  7. ↑ Noonan, B.P.; Sites, J.W. Jr. (2009). "Tracing the origins of iguanid lizards and boine snakes of the Pacific". The American Naturalist. American Naturalist. 175 (1): 61–72. doi:10.1086/648607. PMID   19929634.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Burghardt, Gordon M.; Rand, A. Stanley (1982). Iguanas of the World: Their Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation (Noyes Series in Animal Behavior, Ecology, Conservation, and Management). Noyes Publications. p. 472. ISBN   0-8155-0917-0.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Robert George Sprackland (1992). Giant lizards. Neptune, NJ: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN   0-86622-634-6.
  10. 1 2 3 Carpenter, C.C. and J.B. Murphy (1978). Aggressive Behavior in the Fiji Lizard (Brachyluphus fasciatus), Journal of Herpetology 12(2) 251–2
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.