Rhinoceros iguana
The name of this species is due to the three large scales on the snout, which bring to mind a rhinoceros's horns. It is predominantly vegetarian, although it may also eat small animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates.
It only inhabits Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti) and it lives in forests, dry and rocky scrubland, often close to the sea, where it prefers a lifestyle on land.
Breeding program
Natural habit
The Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Its habitat is rocky and dry areas without much wooded coverage in Santo Domingo and Haiti, generally situated in coastal lowlands, keys and small rocky islands close to the coast, or in lakes or swamps.
- Distribution / Resident
- Breeding
- Wintering
- Subspecies
Risk level
- Extint
- Extint in the wild
- Critically endangered
- In Danger
- Vulnerable
- Near threatened
- Minor concern
- Insufficient data
- Not evaluated
Taxonomy
Physical characteristics
Biology
Reproduction
Discover how they are
Biology
Colouring is brown and grey tones, and it is characterised by the presence of a horn-shaped protuberance on top of its head, more developed on males, the reason for its name. Males are much bigger than females.
Its habitat is rocky and dry areas without much wooded coverage in Santo Domingo and Haiti, generally situated in coastal lowlands, keys and small rocky islands close to the coast, or in lakes or swamps.
Basically herbivorous, they eat seeds, flowers, leaves, tender shoots and fruits of different plant species, including cacti. They very occasionally also eat insects, eggs, land crabs and even carrion, especially the remains of sea birds and fish that wash onto the beach.
Females dig underground tunnels more than one metre long with a small chamber at the end, where they lay up to 30 eggs. After three to four months the hatchlings emerge, almost 20 cm long, and are very active from the time they hatch.
This stocky iguana is primarily ground-dwelling, rarely climbing trees like many other iguana species do. Diurnal, they spend the night hidden away in underground dens. To rest, they also take shelter in cracks in rocks, caves or holes in trees during the day. Males are territorial and defend their terrain very aggressively against any competitor.
This species is in danger of extinction due to the degradation of its habitat, overhunting for human consumption and being prey to domestic and wild animals introduced on the islands where they live.
The Barcelona Zoo participates in the European Studbook (ESB) for this species in captivity.