Iguana 10.3 color covers (Page C1)


Hodge, Karim V. D., Ellen J. Censky, and
Robert Powell. 2003. The Reptiles and
Amphibians of Anguilla, British West Indies.
Anguilla National Trust, The Valley. Softcover,
$15. 72 pp., over 90 illustrations, nearly all in
color.

This delightful volume is the second in a series of
guides published by the Anguilla National Trust on
their native flora and fauna. The nation of Anguilla is
composed of one main and several small islands, which
collectively form the northern end of the Lesser Antilles
(the island chain that extends from the Puerto Rico
Bank to South America). Unlike most other Lesser
Antillean islands, which are mountainous, much of
Anguilla is low-lying and dry. Rather than accumulating
on the surface, rainfall tends to seep through the karst
limestone from which the islands are formed. Thus the
native forest must be both drought and hurricane resis-
tant. What remains, after extensive foraging by the
ubiquitous goats, is mostly degraded scrub forest, yet
the islands still host over 500 varieties of plants and, sur-
prisingly, over 20 species of reptiles.

The guidebook features species accounts of
Anguilla’s three frogs or toads (all introduced), four sea
turtles, one terrestrial turtle (possibly introduced), three
snakes (two introduced), and 13 lizards. The lizard
accounts address two iguanas (one native and one intro-
duced), three ameivas (all native and two endemic), two
anoles (one native and one introduced), a skink
(native), and five geckos (one endemic species has not
been formally described and one species is probably
introduced). These subjects range in size from massive
Leatherback Sea Turtles to tiny Dwarf Geckos. My per-
sonal favorite is the Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana
delicatissima, of which an excellent photograph by
Glenn Gerber graces the cover. Of particular interest is
the conservation status of this animal. Although threat-
ened throughout its range, the Anguillian population is
critically endangered. The usual factors (habitat destruc-
tion and competition with feral animals) are responsi-
ble, but these may be exacerbated by potential compe-
tition and hybridization with Green Iguanas,
introduced as pets or on a raft of floating debris that
arrived on Anguilla shortly after Hurricane Luis in
1995.

This book is an excellent resource for both herp
enthusiasts and newcomers. A brief description of the
nature of reptiles and amphibians and an excellent glos-
sary of terms provide help for the uninitiated. Each
species account includes colorful photographs and illus-
trations along with notes on the distribution, origin,
biology, and conservation status of each animal. I par-
ticularly liked the sections on the origins of the various

species. Aside from mentioning the usual methods of
introduction (e.g., rafting, land bridges, or human
mediation), one notation suggested that some geckos
may have been “purposely introduced by sorcerers to
some islands in order to terrify their subjects.”

Most significantly, a section on conservation
describes the reasons why many species have become
threatened and suggests measures for improving the sit-
uation. Among other things, the authors suggest sus-
tainable land use and the conservation and enhance-
ment of animal habitat. Perhaps the most important
measure suggested, however, is increasing public aware-
ness, and, in this, the book itself provides an excellent
resource. In fact, the Trust intends to utilize it in
Anguillian schools to enhance an awareness and appre-
ciation of the nation’s natural resources.

Because printing costs were covered by a grant
from the United Kingdom’s Foreign and
Commonwealth Office Environmental Fund for
Overseas Territories, all proceeds from the sale of the
book will support the efforts of the Anguilla National
Trust to preserve that nation’s natural and cultural her-
itage. Copies may be ordered directly from the Trust
(Anguilla National Trust, P.O. Box 1234, The Valley,
Anguilla, B.W.I.; axanat@anguillanet.com) or from
Bibliomania! (http://www.herplit.com/) for US $15
(EC $40) plus shipping and handling.

AJ Gutman

B O O K  R E V I E W
93IGUANASeptember 2003