Fiji Crested Iguana In Fiji

The Fiji Crested Iguana is a part of Fiji's wide range of colorful wildlife, yet the devastation and destruction of their native habitat threatens how colorful Fiji's wildlife soon may be. The community of iguanas in Fiji are small, with only three iguana species contributing to the biodiversity on the islands. Therefore, this reptile is a sort of rarity in the biosphere overall. It is considered the largest in size and the most colorful of the islands. The iguana has a distinct appearance with a habitat that is being eradicated, causing critical endangerment and conservation. This iguana was first discovered in the year 1979 by chance when Dr John Gibbons was researching a different iguana that was also native to the islands. Yet, the iguana

Many factors can cause endangerment such as climate, pollution, or not being able to adjust to an ecosystem. Yet, the major factor for our iguana was a biotic factor. An introduced species of goats, mongoose, domestic cats, and rats were moved onto their lands. Other minor factors were consumers, also known as producers, preying on the iguana. The only noticeable act of predation that is big enough to be recorded as a factor against the iguana is the species of Fiji Hawk, yet on occasions feral cats or mongoose will also prey on the Fiji Crested Iguana. (Wildscreen Arkive, 2003)

Our iguana finds its home on uninhabited beach forests on certain Fiji Islands, where the island has zero to a only few people in the population density. Yet, since the reptile is considered critically endangered, most of the remaining estimated 12,000 are on Yadua Taba, with less than 1,000 still finding homage on their native lands. Of the fourteen islands in Fiji the iguana was native to, they only exist now on three of them. (Reptile

Both female and male iguana’s have the same color scheme and pattern, yet males can be distinguished by their femoral pores and larger head. Both genders grow, from head to tail, around 30 inches in length. Its defenses are to change color from green or blue, to black and have slower movements to hide from their opponent, which is similar to a chameleon’s defenses. It will flatten its body and stand up tall when to antagonize its opponent, which is usually just for show, as it will flee when challenged. The Fiji Crested Iguana does not prey on any other animals, but instead is herbivorous, eating only leaves from trees or shrubs, fruit, or flowers as sustenance. (Fife Jerry, 2011) The Fiji Crested Iguana should be saved from extinction. As an extinct species could have an affect on its surrounding ecosystem, the outcome could be negative. Such as, species that prey on them naturally (not introduced) may be affected by not having necessary sustenance to support that species.(Marshell, 2015) The Fiji Crested Iguana is only one of three iguana species on the islands, which makes it even more critical to be saved because of its rarity. (Fife,