Herpetological observations on the island of Cayo Cruz

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33910/2686-9519-2025-17-3-476-480

Keywords:

Cuba, Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago, Cayo Cruz, herpetofauna, Reptilia

Abstract

The herpetofauna of Cayo Cruz island in the Sabana-Camagüey archipelago, located off the northern coast of Cuba, includes seven species of terrestrial reptiles (Ameiva auberi orlandoi, Anolis jubar santamariae, Anolis porcatus porcatus, Cyclura nubila nubila, Leiocephalus stictigaster septentrionalis, Hemidactylus mabouia, Cubophis cantherigerus cantherigerus) and three species of sea turtles (Chelonia mydas, Caretta caretta, Eretmochelys imbricata). Amphibians are absent from the island. The study confirms the presence of the ameiva Pholidoscelis auberi on the island, clarifies the subspecies of Anolis jubar, and documents the first record of Hemidactylus mabouia for the island. A previous record of a third anole species, Anolis sagrei, is determined to have been based on a misidentification of female Anolis jubar.

References

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2025-10-29

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