| Iguana, Barrington Land | |||
| Genus | Conolophus | ||
| Species | pallidus | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Habitat | Island | ||
| Distribution | Ecuador - Galapagos Islands | ||
| Length | 43 inches (110 cm) | ||
| Behavior | The Barrington land iguana is a large lizard that digs roomy burrows in loose soil or ash. Some live in small caves. The male guards his territory very well, and when another male enters his area, a shoving match will take place. To show their anger, the iguanas will inflate their throats. Then, they lean against each other until one tires and decides to leave. | ||
| Breeding | Foals are born in April and May. | ||
| Conservation |
By 1970 most of these animals were massacred by either human hunters or animal predators. Its story is much the same as any other endangered island animal. It was once plentiful in its natural habitat, but when people arrived, its population dropped drastically.
Settlers brought foreign plants and animals with them, including dogs, cats, rats, mice, cattle, pigs, and goats. Some of these domestic animals ate the iquanas or its eggs and young. The other, plant-eating animals ate the food on which the iguana depended. People also found iguana meat a delicacy. Soon this animal disappeared from all but three of the nineteen Galapagos Islands. Today, iguana hatchlings are born in captivity and released on safe islands. Unfortunately, these areas still contain some cats that may threaten these babies. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
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