Fiji Crested Iguana

(Brachylophus vitiensis)


Facts

Fiji Crested Iguana IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)

 

Facts about this animal

The Fiji crested iguana has a light green to grey or black ground colour in both sexes, with two or three narrow white vertical bands on the body and a similar band aligned diagonally from the neck to the ear. The tail is strongly banded. The dark coloration is more intense in males than in females. The nostril scale is yellowish. This Iguana has a prominent angular dewlap, present in both sexes. The body scales are keeled - dorsally smaller and larger on the ventral surface. The tail is more than twice the snout-vent length. The total length is about 70 cm.

Did you know?
that the Fiji crested iguana and its close relative, the Fiji banded iguana, are the most geographically isolated iguanas in the world. They are believed to have evolved from green iguanas that rafted on debris across the Pacific Ocean from South America.


 

Factsheet
Class REPTILIA
Order SQUAMATA
Suborder SAURIA (IGUANIA)
Family IGUANIDAE
Name (Scientific) Brachylophus vitiensis
Name (English) Fiji Crested Iguana
Name (French) Iguane à crête de Fiji
Name (German) Kurzkammleguan
Name (Spanish) Iguana crestada de Fiji
CITES Status Appendix I
CMS Status Not listed

 

 

Photo Copyright by
Michael Howard

Distribution

 


Distribution
Range Fiji
Habitat Tropical forest
Wild population Approx. 6'000 (2001)
Zoo population 44 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

Fiji Crested Iguana

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 41 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Sean Mack

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Fiji crested iguanais critically endangered in the wild. With a view of building up a reserve population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella, and a coordinated conservation breeding programme (ASMP) is operated at the regional level by ARAZPA.