Endangered Species

San Salvador Iguana  |  San Salvador Woodpecker

San Salvador Iguana -- (Cyclura rileyi rileyi)

San Salvador Iguana Photo William K Hayes

This lizard is now confined to six tiny cays just offshore or within the hypersaline inland lakes of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Population estimates suggest that fewer than 600 remain. Introduced Cactoblastus moths are decimating Opuntia cacti, a major food source, and feral rats have been documented on three of the cays (we have eradicated the rats from one of these). Recent catastrophic storms (especially Hurricane Floyd in 1999) have inflicted damage on their habitats. Body size and color vary considerably from cay to cay.

For more information on current research please visit the website of William K. Hayes at Loma Linda University.

West Indian Woodpecker Photo Bruce Hallet

The West Indian Woodpecker (Melanerpes superciliaris) occupies six major Caribbean islands, representing a highly disjunct distribution. Although there is some disagreement, each island form is generally recognized as a distinct subspecies. The species or species complex is closely allied to, and probably derived from, the Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) of the southeastern United States. In San Salvador the woodpecker is rare.

For more information visit the website of William K. Hayes at Loma Linda University.

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