Iguana 12.4 b&w text Editors Robert Powell Exectutive Editor Avila University, Kansas City, MO AJ Gutman Editor West Hartford, CT Gad Perry Associate Editor Texas Tech University Michael Ripca Art Director Atco, NJ John Binns Graphics/Photography International Reptile Conservation Foundation, San Jose, CA Sandy Binns Services Coordinator International Reptile Conservation Foundation, San Jose, CA Editorial Board Allison C. Alberts Zoological Society of San Diego Frederic J. Burton Blue Iguana Recovery Program Arthur C. Echternacht University of Tennessee L. Lee Grismer La Sierra University Robert W. Henderson Milwaukee Public Museum John B. Iverson Earlham College Charles R. Knapp Zoological Society of San Diego Gunther Köhler Senckenberg Museum Kenneth L. Krysko Florida State Museum of Natural History Jan Ramer Indianapolis Zoo Thomas Wiewandt Wild Horizons Statement of Purpose The International Reptile Conservation Foundation works to conserve reptiles and the natural habitats and ecosystems that support them. The International Reptile Conservation Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501 c(3) California corporation. Membership Information IGUANA, the Journal of The International Reptile Conservation Foundation, is distributed quarterly. 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JOIN ON-LINE AT: www.IRCF.org Membership Questions? Email: info@IRCF.org, or contact AJ at 860-236-8203, or write to: IRCF, 3010 Magnum Drive, San Jose, CA 95135 Solicitations The IRCF encourages contribution of articles, letters to the Editor, news items, and announcements for publication in IGUANA. General articles can deal with any aspect of reptilian biology, including conservation, behavior, ecology, physiology, systematics, or husbandry. Submission of photographs to accompany articles is encouraged. Manuscripts may be submitted via e-mail (send to AJ@IRCF.org). Authors of one page or more of print will receive a free copy of the journal in which their contribution appears, and will receive a PDF file of their article for distribution. Donations For any donations, please include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Advertising Policy We advertise only non-living products (except feeder insects). For advertising rates and options contact Sandy Binns, Advertising Director, at SB@IRCF.org or 3010 Magnum Drive, San Jose, CA 95135. IGUANA Copyright ©2005 by The International Reptile Conservation Foundation, 3010 Magnum Drive, San Jose, CA 95135 USA. ISSN # 1098-6324. The contents of IGUANA, excluding Research Articles, Research Updates, and reprinted articles, may be reproduced for inclusion in the newsletters of other herpetological societies, provided the material is reproduced without change and with appro- priate credits, and a copy of the publication is sent to The International Reptile Conservation Foundation. Occasional exceptions may be made to this policy. Editor’s Remarks In this issue (p. 240), we feature the Utila Anole (Norops [Anolis] utilensis), which may be the world’s most endangered anole — and a species about which we know very little. Unfortunately, many of the reptilian species that are threatened by human activity are similarly unknown and consequently receive little or no protection. A few years ago, an intense effort to assess the conservation status of amphibians worldwide resulted in many species that had previously received little or no attention afforded at least an acknowl- edgement of their precarious state through inclusion on the IUCN Red List. Although a comparable effort is being initiated for reptiles, an obvious inequity currently exists. For example, when considering amphib- ians and reptiles of the Dominican Republic, 32 of 37 native species of amphibians (86%) known to occur in the country are redlisted. In stark contrast, only 15 of 108 native reptilian species (14%) are included in the IUCN list (and four of the listed species are sea turtles that are endangered throughout the region and the world). Among species that are excluded is one snake that may already be extinct (Alsophis melanichnus) and several others that are known to be very rare (A. anomalus and two species in the genus Ialtris) — all are diurnally active and terrestrial. The principal threat is undoubtedly predation by intro- duced mongooses (Herpestes javanicus), also implicated in the extirpation of A. antiguae from Antigua proper and in the presumed extinction of A. ater from Jamaica. Although redlisting may come too late for some of these snakes, we hope that efforts to assess the conservation status of the world’s reptiles succeeds in shedding light on the plight of species for which hope may still exist. Robert Powell IRCF International Reptile Conservation Foundation