Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 117-118

Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) — Non-native; Introduced.

Lacerta Igvana Linnaeus, 1758: 206–207 . Syntypes (2): NRM unnumbered and UUZM unnumbered, according to de Queiroz (1995: 26). Type locality: “[h]abitat Indiis”; later restricted to “island of Terre de Haut, Les Iles des Saintes, Département de la Guadeloupe, French West Indies” by Lazell (1973: 7) (inappropriate restriction [ de Queiroz 1995: 26]; later restricted to “confluence of the Cottica River and Perica Creek, Surinam ” by Hoogmoed (1973); later restricted to “vicinity of Paramaribo, Surinam ” by Duellman (2012: 89).

Green Iguana

( Figure 14C )

Singapore records.

Iguana iguana —E.K. Chua, 2007a: 35–36 (Singapore Botanic Gardens; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve).— D.C.J. Yeo & C.S.W. Chia, 2010: 35.—A.- L. Chang & T. Koh, 2011: 205.—H.H. Tan & K.K.P. Lim, 2012: 361.—J.W.L. Yeo, 2014: 119 (Jalan Rengkam).—B.C. Ng & K.K.P. Lim, 2015: 51 (Orchidville Plant Nursery).— J.B. Tay, 2015: 188 (Burgundy Crescent).— M.R. Low et al ., 2016: 148–149 (Jurong Bird Park).—M.D.Y. Khoo, 2016: 185 (Kranji Reservoir [Sungei Peng Siang]).—I. Chew & M.R. Low, 2017: 5 (Old Upper Thomson Road).—M.L. Kwak, 2018a: 92–93 (Jurong Hill).—M.L. Kwak et al., 2019b: 265 (Bukit Batok; Kranji Reservoir [Sungei Peng Siang]; Jurong [Jurong Hill]; Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; Upper Thomson).—R.K.H. Yeo, 2019: 38 ( Singapore Botanic Gardens).—van den Burg et al., 2020: 2–5 (Botanic Garden; Burgundy Crescent; Jalan Rengkam; Japanese Gardens; Jurong Bird Park; Jurong Eco Garden; Jurong Hill; Old Chua Chu Kang; Old Upper Thomson Road; Pasir Ris Park; Sengkang PCN; Serangoon; Sungei Peng Siang; Sungei Tengah Road [Orchidville Nursery]; Tanah Merah; Temenggong Road Mosque; Warren Country Club; Yishun Pond).—M.L. Kwak et al., 2021: 2.—H.H. Tan, 2021: 1 (Choa Chu Kang).—H.H. Tan & K.K.P. Lim, 2022: 1 (Jurong Bird Park).

“iguanas”— Lay, 2021b (Warren Golf & Country Club).

Remarks. Native to tropical Latin America (Savage 2002), I. iguana is an introduced species to Singapore. The first reported observation of I. iguana is from December 2005 when one was seen harassing a Varanus salvator at SBWR ( Chua 2007a). In there, Chua (2007a) noted previously seeing one at SBG, but did not provide any details. Since then, observations of I. iguana throughout the country were continually reported (van den Burg et al. 2020). Previously believed to not be established (Yeo & Chia 2010), the presence of juveniles and adults around Orchidville Nursery suggests there may be a breeding population in Singapore (Ng & Lim 2015). A very recent investigation into the establishment and spread of I. iguana using publications, social media, and iNaturalist revealed 50 sightings from 17 locations, with most sightings being around Jurong Hill, Jurong Bird Park, and Warren Golf & Country Club (van den Burg et al. 2020). The high prevalence of I. iguana around Jurong is likely due to escaped individuals from the defunct Jurong Reptile Park (van den Burg et al. 2020), and elsewhere across Singapore feral iguanas appear to be escapees or intentionally released pets (van den Burg et al. 2020). The largest population appears to be at Warren Golf & Country Club ( Lay 2021b; H.H. Tan 2021). As for now, it is safe to say that I. iguana is established to the point that individuals are not dispersing throughout the island; otherwise, there will be more reports of the species given its preference for open habitats.

Occurrence. Wide-ranging. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Not Applicable.

Conservation priority. None, non-native species.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2022].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Orchidville Plant Nursery: ZRC.2.7221 (Jul-2015) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. No specimens.

Singapore localities. Bukit Batok—Burgundy Crescent—Choa Chu Kang—Jalan Rengkam—Japanese Gardens— Jurong Bird Park—Jurong Eco Garden—Jurong Hill—Old Chua Chu Kang—Old Upper Thomson Road— Orchidville Plant Nursery—Pasir Ris Park—Sengkang PCN—Serangoon—Singapore Botanic Gardens— Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Sungei Peng Siang—Tanah Merah—Temenggong Road Mosque—Warren Country Club—Yishun Pond.

Family Scincidae Oppel, 1811 (8 species)

Scincoides Oppel, 1811: 16, 20, 37–38 (type genus Scincus Laurenti, 1769 ).

Genus Dasia Gray, 1839 (2 species)

Figures

FIGURE 14. A) Hemiphyllodactylus typus, B) Lepidodactylus lugubris, C) Iguana iguana, D) Dasia grisea, E) Dasia olivacea, F) Emoia atrocostata, G) Eutropis multifasciatus, and H) Eutropis rugifera. Photographs by: Alex Figueroa [A, G], Holly Siow [B], Kelvin K.P. Lim [C], Law Ing Sind [D, H], Chloe Tan [E], and Nick Baker [F].