Cyclura cychlura
| Northern Bahamian rock iguana | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Cyclura |
| Species: | C. cychlura |
| Binomial name | |
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Cyclura cychlura (Cuvier, 1829) |
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| Subspecies | |
The northern Bahamian rock iguana (Cyclura cychlura) is a species of lizard of the genus Cyclura that is found on the Andros and Exuma islands in the Bahamas. Its status on the IUCN Red List is Vulnerable, with a wild population of less than 5,000 animals.
The northern Bahamian rock iguana's generic name Cyclura and specific name Cychlura are derived from the Ancient Greek cyclos (κύκλος) meaning "circular" and ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail", after the thick-ringed tail characteristic of all cyclurids. Its closest relatives are Cyclura nubila on Cuba, and Cyclura lewisi on Grand Cayman. All three apparently diverged from a common ancestor some 3 million years ago.
There are three subspecies of the northern Bahamian rock iguana: the Andros Island iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura), Allen's Cay iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata), and the Exuma Island iguana (Cyclura cychlura figginsi). Biologist Catherine Malone describes C. c. cychlura as being phylogenetically different from C. c. figginisi and C. c. inornata but does not recognize them as separate species; the three are listed as subspecies until further study has been completed.
This species, like other species of Cyclura, is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and have more prominent dorsal crests and "horns" in addition to more prominent femoral pores on their thighs, which are used to release pheromones.
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