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IGUANA  •  VOLUME 14, NUMBER 1  •  MARCH 2007 7

A local group, “CIELO,” in Duvergé has been actively support-
ing our efforts. With their help, we mounted a teachers’ workshop in
August. This program was developed in cooperation with the
Indianapolis Zoo and ZooDom (the national zoo in Santo
Domingo). Teachers have expressed considerable interest in units
addressing the nation’s natural heritage, of which Ricord’s Iguana com-
prises an important element. Establishing a local support group in
Jimaní and implementing additional workshops for teachers are crit-
ical if the local authorities are to become interested in conservation.

Acknowledgements
We thank the International Iguana Foundation for its support
of this work.

References
Alberts, A.C., R.I. Carter, W.K. Hayes, and E.P. Martins. 2004. Iguanas: Biology

and Conservation. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Arias, Y., S.J. Incháustegui, and E. Rupp. 2004. Cyclura ricordii on the
Barahona Peninsula: A preliminary report. Iguana 11:9–14.

Ottenwalder, J.A. 1999. Ricord’s Iguana, Cyclura ricordi, 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.

Ramer, J. 2004. A survey of Ricord’s Iguanas (Cyclura ricordii) and Rhinoceros
Iguanas (Cyclura cornuta) in Isla Cabritos National Park, Dominican
Republic. 2003: A preliminary report. Iguana 11:89–95.

Rupp, E., S.J. Incháustegui, and Y. Arias. 2005. Conservation of Cyclura ricordii
in the southwestern Dominican Republic and a brief history of Grupo
Jaragua. Iguana 12:223–233.

CYCLURA RICORDII IN LAGO ENRIQUILLO

Certainly the most ubiquitous snake species on the
Greater Antillean island of Hispaniola (including many

of its satellite islands) is the colubrid Antillophis parvifrons.
It is a slender snake with a maximum snout-vent length
(SVL) of 530 mm. Dorsal ground color is variable (brown,
black, gray, or bluish), and the dorsum may be patternless
or with middorsal and dorsolateral stripes. The species
occurs in habitats ranging from xeric scrub to rainforest.
These snakes appear to be highly seasonal breeders in dry
habitats, but may exhibit prolonged or even continuous
breeding activity in moister situations at higher elevations.

A fast-moving, ground-dwelling, diurnally active snake,
it can be found in orchard and plantation situations (e.g.,
banana, breadfruit, cacao, coconut, coffee), where it may be
observed cruising through leaf litter or concealed in coconut
or banana trash. It appears to do well in greatly altered habi-
tats and is often encountered near human habitations.

Antillophis parvifrons is an active forager that feeds on a
wide array of frogs (Osteopilus, Eleutherodactylus) and lizards
(Sphaerodactylus, Anolis, Leiocephalus, Celestus, Ameiva), but
Anolis accounted for nearly 71% of all prey items in a sam-
ple of almost 200 snakes. In contrast, frogs of the genus
Eleutherodactylus accounted for only 12% of prey items.
Although small mammals (Mus musculus) are occasionally
taken, they are not typical fare (2.2% of the sample).

Groups of three to five individuals have been found
together on Île-de-la-Gonâve (Haiti), perhaps in a breeding
situation. Clutches of 2–15 eggs have been reported, and
clutch size is positively correlated with female SVL. When
threatened, some individuals will raise the forepart of the
body and the neck will become flattened dorsoventrally,
reminiscent of some species of West Indian racers (Alsophis).

References
Henderson, R.W., B.I. Crother, T.A. Noeske-Hallin, A. Schwartz, and

C.R. Dethloff. 1987. The diet of the Hispaniolan snake Antillophis
parvifrons. Journal of Herpetology 21:328–332.

Powell, R., S.A. Maxey, J.S. Parmerlee, Jr., and D.D. Smith. 1991. Notes
on the reproductive biology of a montane population of Antillophis
parvifrons protenus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Dominican
Republic. Journal of Herpetology 25:121–122.

Schwartz, A. and R.W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the
West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History.
University of Florida Press, Gainesville.

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

Hispaniolan Lesser Racer (Antillophis parvifrons)
Robert W. Henderson

Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Hispaniolan Lesser Racer (Antillophis parvifrons) occurs in
habitats ranging from rainforest to xeric scrub, such as that found
in the area around Lago Enriquillo.

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