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8 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 ARIAS, INCHÁUSTEQUI, AND RUPP

Map of the Barahona Peninsula: The outlined area indicates
where we were able to confirm the presence of C. ricordii.
Illustration by John Binns.

An adult Cyclura ricordii in a crevice in múcara east of “Los Olivares.”

A two-year old juvenile Cyclura ricordii from the lower Barahona
Peninsula.



Introduction

This report summarizes the preliminary results of the survey
undertaken by Grupo Jaragua in the Cabo Rojo–Pedernales

region of the Barahona Peninsula in the Dominican Republic.
The main purpose of the survey was to search for and locate
Cyclura ricordii habitats and populations in the region. We also
assessed threats to the species and the extent of human impact
on its populations. 

Methods
We initiated fieldwork in December 2002 by identifying key
informants and interviewing them about their knowledge of C.
ricordii. We used photographs of C. cornuta and C. ricordii to
determine if the informant was able to discriminate between the
two species. These informants were persons who were known to
have spent considerable time in the field and to have an exten-
sive knowledge of the local flora and fauna. “Monteros,” hunters
of wild pigs and goats, and park rangers from Jaragua National
Park were the best sources of information.

Subsequently, we made field trips to the sites identified by
the key informants, where the presence or absence of C. ricordii
was verified by the following methods: (1) Direct sighting with
clear identification of an animal being C. ricordii. (2) Dead ani-
mals, when identification of parts being those of C. ricordii. (3)
Tail drags: in the fine, reddish soil of the “fondos” (= level plains
and depressions), the two species of iguanas leave distinctive tail
drag marks. (4) Retreats: individual C. ricordii spend consider-
able time in close proximity to refugia. If an animal is sighted
and identified, its retreat often can be found in the vicinity and
drag marks also can determine the owner of a specific burrow.
(5) Nesting sites: nesting activities of C. ricordii began in early
April this year and females were active through May. During
that period, no nesting activity of C. cornuta was verified.
Consequently, all nesting attempts and finished nests found dur-
ing those two months were attributed to C. ricordii. We also
assumed that nests with signs of emerging hatchlings in July
were those of C. ricordii. Using GPS (UTM, map datum: NAD
27 of the Caribbean), we recorded all localities where the pres-
ence of C. ricordii was verified.

In April 2003, we made a reconnaissance flight over the
area via a helicopter generously provided by the Dominican Air
Force. With experience gained during the fieldwork, we were
looking especially for “fondos” that could serve as nesting sites

of C. ricordii. We supplemented these efforts by using 1999
Landsat satellite images for the same purpose.

Results
General.—We verified the presence of C. ricordii in a small area
(ca. 2 km2) east of the town of Pedernales and in a larger area
(ca. 32 km2) north and east of the “Los Olivares” location. This
area extends northeast to the Cabo Rojo–Aceitillar road.

We have also revisited the following areas: (1) All larger fon-
dos and their surroundings east of the Cabo Rojo-Aceitillar road
to an elevation of about 200 m asl (above sea level), (2) fondos
and vicinities north and south of the Pedernales-Oviedo road
between the 8 and 25 km markers, (3) the Bahía de las Águilas,
(4) the Sabana de las Iguanas southeast of Cabo Rojo, (5) the

Cyclura ricordii on the Barahona Peninsula:
A Preliminary Report

Yvonne Arias, Sixto Incháustequi, and Ernst Rupp

Grupo Jaragua Inc., Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Photographs by Ernst Rupp.

IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 9CYCLURA RICORDII

�

Tail drag of Cyclura cornuta (top, note the parallel lines) and tail drag
of C. ricordii (bottom, note the lack of lines). 



area “Ti Conserva” west of Tru Nicolá, (6) the area southeast of
El Cerro, (7) “Cayo de las Iguanas” y “Cayo del Pey” in the
Laguna de Oviedo, and (8) the western coast of the Laguna,
directly opposite to the mentioned keys. We found signs of C.
cornuta in all of these areas, but we were not able to verify the
presence of C. ricordii.

Habitat.—The area limited to the southwest by the Pedernales-
Oviedo road and to the east by the Cabo Rojo-Aceitillar road
consists of flat plains punctuated by marine limestone terraces.
Inside this area we found C. ricordii in a mosaic of habitats,
which can be classified broadly into three categories: (1) Fondo:
flat plains and depressions in the ground covered by fine argillic
soil of reddish color. The vegetation is open canopy and cer-
tainly disturbed. The dominant species are: Cayuco
(Cephalocereus polygonus), Alpargata (Opuntia moniliformis),
Bayahonda (Prosopis juliflora), and Guasábara (Cylindropuntia
caribea). During most of the year the ground was barren, but
rains in September and October triggered rapid growth of herbs,
grasses, and vines. Ricord’s Iguanas excavate their burrows in the
fondos, which also serve as major nesting sites. (2) Múcara:
limestone rock outcrops (fig. 7), in which C. ricordii seems to
show preference for less rugged areas, where holes and cracks
serve as retreats. The extent to which Ricord’s Iguanas are mov-
ing into the more rugged “dogtooth” limestone is unclear. The
vegetation has an open canopy, but it is more diversified than in
the fondos and the above mentioned species are less dominant.
Bayahonda is scarce. (3) Cascajo: areas covered by gravel and
small boulders. The vegetation seems to be a mixture of the ele-
ments that characterize múcara and fondos. After heavy rains,
the ground is covered by herbs, grasses, and climbers. Ricord’s
Iguanas excavate nesting sites and burrows in cascajo.

At about 100 m asl toward the north, the vegetation
becomes more dense, the canopy more closed, and the number
of tree species more numerous. However, surface conditions can
still be classified according to the three previously mentioned
categories. Cyclura ricordii is present in these areas, and the sites
where we found animals approach the limit of 150 m asl pro-
posed by Ottenwalder (1999).

Distribution, Age Structure, and Population Densities.—The
smaller subpopulation east of Pedernales includes animals of all
age classes. Retreats are in múcara and cascajo. The area is char-
acterized by having been used for slash and burn agriculture
(conucism) in the past. Secondary vegetation, with strong pres-
ence of Guasábara, is dominant. We did not estimate C. ricordii
population density because tracing transects in places heavily
infested by Guasábara was impossible. Cyclura cornuta is present
in the area.

“Los Olivares,” an area subjected to intensive agriculture
and apparently unsuitable for C. ricordii, separates the subpop-
ulations. This area is a flat plain characterized by argillic reddish
soil. Informants noted that Los Olivares supported a large pop-
ulation of C. ricordii before being converted into agricultural
land. Aerial photos taken in 1983 showed that the eastern part
of the area was still covered by natural vegetation. An irrigation
channel built in 1984 also impedes the free movement of ani-
mals between the two subpopulations.

10 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 ARIAS, INCHÁUSTEQUI, AND RUPP

An active Cyclura ricordii burrow in the Fondo de la Malagueta (April
2003).

Vegetation in the Fondo de la Malagueta (October 2003).

Nesting attempts of a female Cyclura ricordii in a recently cleared and
fenced terrain on the fringes of Los Olivares.

A gravid female Cyclura ricordii on múcara (limestone outcrops).



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 11CYCLURA RICORDII

The larger subpopulation occupies an area that includes the
outer fringes of Los Olivares towards the northeast, the marine
limestone terraces that surround Los Olivares, and the plain
above these limestone terraces. On the plain, one fondo of about
47 ha showed signs of very high Ricord’s Iguana activity. This
fondo, known locally as “Fondo de la Malagueta,” is surrounded
by patches of múcara, cascajo, and some smaller fondos. On an
approximately 500 m-long transect (40 m wide) through the
Fondo de la Malagueta, we counted 63 active burrows in May.
Assuming that every active burrow is home to an adult animal,
we calculated a density of 31.5 individuals per ha. The methods
are certainly very crude and a more detailed investigation is
appropriate, but the number gives an idea of the high density of
adults in the fondo. We also noted the presence of juveniles and
hatchlings. The incidence of C. cornuta seems to be low, with
signs of activity limited to the southeastern corner of the fondo. 

Estimates of population densities outside the Fondo de la
Malagueta are more difficult. Based on the availability of suit-
able cracks and holes in the múcara, we assumed that popula-
tion density was much lower than in the Fondo. Retreats are not
as easily detected in múcara and cascajo as in the fondos. Also,
both iguana species are present in this area, and no tail drag

marks provided clues to the owners of specific retreats, forcing a
reliance on direct observations. Reports by a key informant indi-
cated that some retreats, which have been known over a period
of years, had changed in ownership from one species to the
other. The idea that suitable retreats in múcara might constitute
a limited resource for both species is worth pursuing further.

A second fondo of about 25 ha is known locally as “Fondo
de Robinson.” In contrast to the Fondo de la Malagueta, we
found no burrows. However, indications that the fondo may be
an important nesting ground for both species were present.
Various retreats of C. ricordii in múcara surrounding the fondo
could be identified and several juveniles were sighted.

The northern fringes of the flat plain of Los Olivares, which
lie adjacent to a limestone terrace, included various smaller local-
ities with active burrows of C. ricordii. Part of the land is being
cleared for agricultural use, so suitable habitat may soon be lost. 

Nesting and Reproduction.—Female C. ricordii initiated nest-
ing activities in early April 2003, possibly triggered by rain that
fell in the area on 31 March and 1 April. On 8 May, we counted
28 finished nests along the 500-m transect in the Fondo de la
Malagueta. We also confirmed nesting activities in the outer

A “finished” Cyclura ricordii nest. A “finished” Cyclura ricordii nest in small fondo of about 1.5 x 1.5 m.

Aerial view of part of the outer fringes of “Los Olivares.” Note the
recent clearing of land in the upper center of the photo and the clear-
ing, which is taking place in the lower right corner.

Aerial view of part of the northeastern fringes of “Los Olivares” show-
ing the Pedernales–Las Mercedes road. Note the waste dump in the
center of the photo and recent clearing of land close to the dump.



fringes of Los Olivares and in many other smaller fondos. In
fact, almost any suitable spot seemed to serve as a nesting site.
Small fondos of only 1 m2 contained finished nests. We even
found evidence of nesting attempts and a few finished nests in
some patches of cascajo.

On 10 July, we found the first nests with signs that hatch-
lings had emerged. On 20 July along the 500-m transect in the
Fondo de la Malagueta, we counted 20 nests from which hatch-
lings had escaped during previous nights. A rough calculation of
ten hatchlings per nest results in a density estimate of 100 hatch-
lings per ha. That same day, we captured two hatchlings that were
hiding inside hollow tree logs on the ground. Considering the
number of hollow logs and trees present in the fondo, the avail-
ability of suitable retreats may be a limiting resource for emerg-
ing hatchlings. The role of adjacent múcara in providing shelter
to hatchlings in cracks and holes may be worth investigating.

We encountered nesting female C. cornuta in early July.
They may have started nesting activities somewhat earlier, but
no field trips were possible in June, so definitive data are lack-
ing. Female C. cornuta nest in places which also are used by C.
ricordii, and they start excavating nests before hatchling C.
ricordii emerge. The impact of this behavior on the reproductive
success of C. ricordii should be examined.

We only encountered two C. cornuta nests in the south-
eastern corner of the Fondo de la Malagueta. In the major part
of the fondo, we found no evidence of nesting C. cornuta.

Cyclura ricordii may have a competitive advantage for reproduc-
tion in this fondo.

Threats.—Exotic mammalian predators (e.g., mongooses and
cats) are present in the area. We were unable to evaluate the mag-
nitude of their presence and any resulting impact on populations
of C. ricordii. We noted five free-ranging cattle in the area east of
Los Olivares. Trampling of burrows or nests might be occurring.
In a relatively small area like the Fondo de la Malagueta, even a
minimal number of cattle could cause major damage. 

However, habitat alteration and destruction by humans
may be of greater concern than the presence of exotics. The area
of Los Olivares may well have been a major center of activity for
C. ricordii in the past. All of this area, except for its outermost
fringes, has been converted into intensely used agricultural land.
These outer fringes presently are also under pressure, and part
of the terrain has been recently cleared of its vegetation. The
areas where the two present subpopulations are found may
already constitute only small remnants of the total distribution
of the species once found in the area.

Trapping of iguanas and excavation of their burrows appear
to be quite common in the outskirts of Pedernales. The north-
eastern fringes of Los Olivares also are affected by these activities.
People in Pedernales eat iguanas, although the extent of the prob-
lem is unknown. We have submitted a proposal to study this phe-
nomenon and its impact on iguanas to the Pittsburgh Zoo Fund.

12 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 ARIAS, INCHÁUSTEQUI, AND RUPP

Successful hatching is indicated by the hole in this nest.

Hatchling Cyclura ricordii hiding inside a hollow log. Effects of nest trampling by cattle.

Hatchling Cyclura ricordii.



IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 13CYCLURA RICORDII

The immediate surroundings of Pedernales, where iguanas
still can be found, also are threatened by land clearings for hous-
ing development projects and a portion of the area is used as a
waste dump.

Even an extension of the boundaries of the Jaragua National
Park, which was proposed in 2002 under the “Proyecto de la Ley
Sectorial de Áreas Protegidas” by the Secretaría de Estado de
Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, would protect only part
of the area where we confirmed the presence of C. ricordii. The
marine terrace, “Los Brujos,” part of the outer fringes of Los
Olivares, and the Fondo de Robinson would be excluded.

Recommendations
In light of the results cited above and fully aware of the critical
situation faced by Cyclura ricordii in the Pedernales area, we pro-
pose the following:

(1) The area of “Los Brujos,” including Fondo Robinson and
the outer fringes of Los Olivares, should be included in the
system of protected areas.

(2) Because the legal procedures necessary for the protection of
C. ricordii will take time and final results are uncertain,
direct measures should be implemented immediately.

(3) The type of landownership and the actual owners of the
land that is most threatened by habitat destruction (i.e., the
immediate surroundings of Pedernales and fringes of Los
Olivares) should be determined. The acquisition of this land
would serve to guarantee direct protection of the remaining
habitat and facilitate restoration of degraded terrain.

Waste dump in the outskirts of Pedernales; Cyclura ricordii is known
to occur in the area in the background.

Remains of a dead iguana that was killed for meat.

A snare trap used by local inhabitants to catch iguanas.



14 IGUANA  •  VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2004 GIFFORD AND POWELL

The Lower Barahona Peninsula is that portion of the
peninsula south of the Sierra de Baoruco. Because the

region lies in the rainshadow of the mountain range, the
lower elevations get little rain and are characterized by dry
tropical forest. Until recently, four species of Ameiva were
thought to occur in the region: Ameiva chrysolaema, A.
leberi, A. lineolata, and A. taeniura.

Of the four, A. lineolata is the smallest (maximum
known snout-vent length = 59 mm) and the most
xerophilic (tolerant of harsh, dry conditions). This species,
featuring a bright blue tail and feet, has a disjunct range in
similar habitats across the island of Hispaniola. Ameiva tae-
niura is intermediate in size (SVL to 103 mm), the least
drought tolerant, and is restricted largely to the relatively
few and scattered moist microhabitats. Although, at some
sites, one can stand in one place and see individuals of dif-
ferent species, closer observation reveals that A. taeniura
only rarely leaves the cooler, shaded areas where canopy
cover is relatively dense.

In the same study that revealed the habitat association
of A. taeniura, the authors found no significant differences
in microhabitat use by A. chrysolaema and A. leberi, which
are comparable in size (SVL to 160 mm in some popula-
tions). The former species is widely distributed across
Hispaniola, whereas the latter is known only from the
peninsula. They are distinguished in that the back and sides
of A. chrysolaema ficta, the subspecies found in the area, is
distinctly patterned, whereas A. leberi is unicolored.
Because other populations of A. chrysolaema are known to
have unicolored pattern variants and because no ecological
differences were evident, the authors suggested that A.
chrysolaema and A. leberi were, in fact, pattern variations of
a single species. More recent genetic studies have verified
that contention.

One of those studies also determined that A. chryso-
laema from the peninsula was distinctive relative to popu-
lations elsewhere on Hispaniola. This is not surprising,
because the island actually is a composite of two paleois-

S P E C I E S  P R O F I L E

The Ground Lizards (Ameiva)
of the Lower Barahona Peninsula

Matthew E. Gifford1 and Robert Powell2

1Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
2Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri

Photographs by Robert Powell.

(4) Two persons should be employed to monitor the area
where C. ricordii is present. These persons should be from
the local community and should have an excellent knowl-
edge of the terrain and the target species. They should con-
trol the persecution of iguanas and stop illegal habitat
destruction by surveying the area, advising people regard-
ing harmful practices, and reporting to the appropriate
authorities, as necessary.

(5) The socioeconomic aspect of iguana hunting and con-
sumption in Pedernales should be investigated.

(6) Educational programs must be developed that not only
address the general public, but will serve to open a dialogue
with the target group of persons in Pedernales involved in
iguana persecution.

Reference
Ottenwalder, J.A. 1999. Ricord’s Iguana, Cyclura ricordii, pp. 51–55. In: A.

Alberts (comp. & ed), West Indian Iguanas: Status Survey and
Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC West Indian Iguana Specialist
Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Acknowledgments
We thank John Binns and Robert Powell for improvements on
an early draft. We express gratitude to Máximo Aquino,
Subsecretario de Recursos Forestales, Secretaría de Medio,
Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, for logistical support and the
Dominican Armed Forces for the helicopter flight. Special thanks
go to Salvador P. Mella from Pedernales, who accompanied us in
the field and whose knowledge of iguanas was invaluable.


