Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just acquired a Female Cuban that is allegedly from GTMO Bay, confiscated here in Florida from a Marine that was stationed in Cuba. From the reasearch that I've done, some say that the GTMO iguanas are different from other populations in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Is there any validity to that, and if so what are the differences?

Cubans are definitely different between the mainland Cuban population and the Puerto Rican population. If you've ever read "Iguanas Biology and Conservation" (or what I call "The Cyclura Bible" it mentions how the head-bobs between both populations have different meanings, etc. If most of the Cubans in the US are from David Blair's stock...they are descended from the Puerto Rican line. I don't recall reading anything about the GITMO population differing substantially from the rest of Cuba. The GITMO iguanas are in a protected reserve more or less so probably get bigger and eat better.

I would assume there are very few/none of the GTMO population in the US or captivity? I'm going to pair her up, but I'm fairly certain it's going to be with a Puerto Rican male

The Gitmo iguanas are the same as the rest of Cuba. The base did act as a preserve prior to the migrant invasion of 1991 and the more recent Iraqi invasion. The iguana populations on the base have taken a beating in the last 10 years (I have studied them there since 1991). I believe my facility (zoo research dept) are the only other Cubans in the US from Gitmo. It would be fine to breed yours with a PR animal - it is the same species, same subspecies - they all originated in Cuba. Many species of iguanas have different headbobs depending on locale; the iguana equivalent to a cultural thing.

Could someone post pics where the differences are visible.I am wondering from which populations my Nubilas came from. The parents of mine came from the Zoo in Prague (Europe -CZ).