Ctenosaura melanosterna

Ctenosaura melanosterna, commonly known as the black-chested spiny-tailed iguana or Honduran spinytailed iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Iguanidae.

Ctenosaura melanosterna
Black-chested spiny-tailed iguana
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Ctenosaura
Species:
C. melanosterna
Binomial name
Ctenosaura melanosterna
Buckley & Axtell, 1997
Ctenosaura melanosterna in the Vienna Zoo

Geographic range

It is endemic to Honduras, in both the mainland and two of the Cayos Cochinos islands off its Caribbean coast.

Habitat

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.

Conservation status

Ctenosaura melanosterna is mainly endangered by human activities, as humans poach these iguanas and their eggs for consumption (Montgomery et al. 2014).[3] The Green iguana is also much more numerous throughout Central America, making it a competitor for food and resources.

References
  1. Pasachnik, S.; Montgomery, C.E.; Henningheim, E. (2012). "Ctenosaura melanosterna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T44189A14857036. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T44189A14857036.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Montgomery, Chad E., S. A. Pasaschnik, L. E. Ruyle, J. A. Frazier, and S. E. W. Green. 2014. Natural History of the Black-Chested Spiny-Tailed Iguanas, Ctenosaura melanosterna (Igunaidae), on Cayo Cochino Menor, Honduras. The Southwestern Naturalist 59:280–285.

Further reading
  • Buckley, L.J., and R.W. Axtell. 1997. Evidence for the Specific Status of the Honduran Lizards Formerly Referred to Ctenosaura palearis (Reptilia: Squamata: Iguanidae). Copeia 1997 (1): 138–150.
  • Montgomery, Chad E., S. A. Pasaschnik, L. E. Ruyle, J. A. Frazier, and S. E. W. Green. 2014. Natural History of the Black-Chested Spiny-Tailed Iguanas, Ctenosaura melanosterna (Igunaidae), on Cayo Cochino Menor, Honduras. The Southwestern Naturalist 59:280–285.
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