Its specific name, cornuta, is the feminine form of the Latin adjective cornutus, meaning "horned" and refers to the horned projections on the snouts of males of the species. The species was first described by American herpetologistEdward Drinker Cope in 1885.[2]
In 1885, Cope first described the lizard as two species in the same paper: C. onchiopsis and C. nigerrima, due to the animal's almost black coloration. A year later he renamed it as C. onchiopsis.[2][6] Herpetologists Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas officially reclassified it as a subspecies of C. cornuta 90 years later, based on the writings of Thomas Barbour and Robert Mertens, yet presented numerous data relating to scale count that suggested otherwise.[7] In 1977, Schwartz and Carey wrote “It is even conceivable that onchiopsis should be considered a species distinct from C. cornuta on the basis of this single character (distinctly smaller dorsolateral scales) (plus perhaps other modalities), but to do so would obscure its obvious affinities with the latter species.”[8] The IUCN still considers the iguana to be its own species C. onchiopsis.
In 1999, Dr Robert Powell wrote that, based on these prior studies, this animal should be elevated to full species status, distinct from C. cornuta.[9]
Descriptionedit
These lizards varied in length from 60 to 136 cm (24 to 54 in), with skin colors ranging from a steely gray to a dark green and even brown, and possessed a bony-plated pseudo-horn or outgrowth which resembled the horn of a rhinoceros.[10]
Statusedit
Navassa Island was visited in 1966 and 1967 and no animals were present.[11] An entomologist visited the island again in 1986 and saw no signs of any iguanas, although he was not specifically looking for them.[11] An extensive search again in 1999 failed to find any iguanas.[9] Military occupation of the island prior to the 1960s may have been responsible for its demise, or years of mining guano for fertilizer; the introduction of feral dogs, goats, and rats may have also been to blame.[8][10][12] Dr Robert Powell's research while at the Department of Natural Sciences, Avila College, Kansas City, Missouri, suggests that the iguanas disappeared before the introduction of feral species, as a result of habitat change or hunting by man.[9] Noted herpetoculturist David Blair maintains that some of these animals may remain in captivity somewhere in the world, but admits they would be very aged specimens.[9][11]
^Powell, R. (2000). Cyclura onchiopsis Cope Navassa Island Rhinoceros Iguana. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles.710: 1-3.
^Cope, E.D. (1886). "On the species of Iguaninae". Proceedings of the American Philosopher's Society. 23 (122): 261-271
^Schwartz, A. and R. Thomas. (1975). A check-list of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh.(1):1-216.
^ abSchwartz, A., and M. Carey. (1977). "Systematics and evolution in the West Indian iguanid genus Cyclura". Studies in Fauna of the Curaçao Caribbean Islands 53:15-97.
^ abcdPowell, Robert, "Herpetology of Navassa Island, West Indies" (PDF), Caribbean Journal of Science, 35 (1–2), University of Puerto Rico: 1–13, retrieved 2007-09-09
^ abHollingsworth, Bradford D. (2004), "The Evolution of Iguanas: An Overview of Relationships and a Checklist of Species", Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, University of California Press, pp. 37–38, ISBN978-0-520-23854-1
^ abcBlair, David, , archived from the original on 2007-10-08, retrieved 2007-09-09
^Navassa Island: A Photographic Tour, retrieved 2007-09-09
cyclura, cornuta, onchiopsis, navassa, island, iguana, subspecies, rhinoceros, iguana, that, found, caribbean, island, navassa, conservation, statusextinct, late, 20th, century, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordata. Cyclura cornuta onchiopsis the Navassa Island iguana was a subspecies of rhinoceros iguana that was found on the Caribbean island of Navassa 5 Cyclura cornuta onchiopsisConservation statusExtinct late 20th century IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder IguaniaFamily IguanidaeGenus CycluraSpecies C cornutaSubspecies C c onchiopsisTrinomial name Cyclura cornuta onchiopsisCope 1885 2 3 SynonymsC yclura onchiopsis Cope 1885 C yclura nigerrima Cope 1885 Cyclura onchiopsis Cope 1886 Cyclura cornuta onchiopsis Schwartz amp Thomas 1975 Cyclura cornuta onchiopsis Schwartz amp Carey 1977 Cyclura onchiopsis Powell 1999 4 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Status 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy editIts specific name cornuta is the feminine form of the Latin adjective cornutus meaning horned and refers to the horned projections on the snouts of males of the species The species was first described by American herpetologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1885 2 In 1885 Cope first described the lizard as two species in the same paper C onchiopsis and C nigerrima due to the animal s almost black coloration A year later he renamed it as C onchiopsis 2 6 Herpetologists Albert Schwartz and Richard Thomas officially reclassified it as a subspecies of C cornuta 90 years later based on the writings of Thomas Barbour and Robert Mertens yet presented numerous data relating to scale count that suggested otherwise 7 In 1977 Schwartz and Carey wrote It is even conceivable that onchiopsis should be considered a species distinct from C cornuta on the basis of this single character distinctly smaller dorsolateral scales plus perhaps other modalities but to do so would obscure its obvious affinities with the latter species 8 The IUCN still considers the iguana to be its own species C onchiopsis In 1999 Dr Robert Powell wrote that based on these prior studies this animal should be elevated to full species status distinct from C cornuta 9 Description editThese lizards varied in length from 60 to 136 cm 24 to 54 in with skin colors ranging from a steely gray to a dark green and even brown and possessed a bony plated pseudo horn or outgrowth which resembled the horn of a rhinoceros 10 Status editNavassa Island was visited in 1966 and 1967 and no animals were present 11 An entomologist visited the island again in 1986 and saw no signs of any iguanas although he was not specifically looking for them 11 An extensive search again in 1999 failed to find any iguanas 9 Military occupation of the island prior to the 1960s may have been responsible for its demise or years of mining guano for fertilizer the introduction of feral dogs goats and rats may have also been to blame 8 10 12 Dr Robert Powell s research while at the Department of Natural Sciences Avila College Kansas City Missouri suggests that the iguanas disappeared before the introduction of feral species as a result of habitat change or hunting by man 9 Noted herpetoculturist David Blair maintains that some of these animals may remain in captivity somewhere in the world but admits they would be very aged specimens 9 11 References edit Powell R 2011 Cyclura onchiopsis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011 Retrieved 1 June 2019 a b c Cope E D 1885 The large iguanas of the Greater Antilles American Natural History 19 1005 1006 Encyclopedia of Life www eol org The Reptile Database www reptile database org Powell R 2000 Cyclura onchiopsis Cope Navassa Island Rhinoceros Iguana Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 710 1 3 Cope E D 1886 On the species of Iguaninae Proceedings of the American Philosopher s Society 23 122 261 271 Schwartz A and R Thomas 1975 A check list of West Indian amphibians and reptiles Carnegie Museum of Natural History Pittsburgh 1 1 216 a b Schwartz A and M Carey 1977 Systematics and evolution in the West Indian iguanid genus Cyclura Studies in Fauna of the Curacao Caribbean Islands 53 15 97 a b c d Powell Robert Herpetology of Navassa Island West Indies PDF Caribbean Journal of Science 35 1 2 University of Puerto Rico 1 13 retrieved 2007 09 09 a b Hollingsworth Bradford D 2004 The Evolution of Iguanas An Overview of Relationships and a Checklist of Species Iguanas Biology and Conservation University of California Press pp 37 38 ISBN 978 0 520 23854 1 a b c Blair David Navassa Island Iguana archived from the original on 2007 10 08 retrieved 2007 09 09 Navassa Island A Photographic Tour retrieved 2007 09 09External links editProfile on Cyclura com Archived 2007 10 08 at the Wayback Machine Cyclura The Reptile Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cyclura cornuta onchiopsis amp oldid 1171466466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
