Reptilian Invaders
The Bahamas boasts a diverse assemblage of reptilian fauna, with 38 recorded species—comprising 24 lizards, 12 snakes, and two freshwater turtles—excluding the five species of marine turtles found in its waters. Notably, a significant proportion of these terrestrial reptiles are endemic to the archipelago. However, the introduction and subsequent establishment of non-native reptile species pose a growing threat to the country’s native biodiversity.
Brahminy Blindsnake
Globally, more than 1,200 successful invasions involving 346 species of amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) have been documented. A 2017 study further identified 178 reptile species that have established populations beyond their native ranges.
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In The Bahamas, Knapp et al. (2011) recorded 22 non-native reptile species, a number that has since increased due to additional introductions and range expansions.
Some species include the North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) and the Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) on Grand Bahama, and the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) in the Berry Islands have all established populations on those islands. Other species have been detected in the country, though their establishment status remains uncertain. These include the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) and Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus), on New Providence, and recently the Red-headed Rock Agama lizard (Agama picticauda) observed on Eleuthera and New Providence.
Several species, unfortunately, are invasive, with the Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) being the most prominent.
​The Green Iguana is a large, primarily arboreal lizard found throughout the Neotropics and the West Indies. Its sister species is the Lesser Antillean Green Iguana (Iguana delictissima). The origin of this species is unclear, with some information indicating that it originated in North America, but basal mitochondrial evidence asserts that it may have originated in South America.
Adult male Green Iguana
Juvenile Green Iguana
Green Iguana populations are found in the Lesser Antilles whereas Rock Iguanas are naturally found in the Greater Antilles and Lucayan Archipelago. Islands where native Green Iguana populations occur include St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Aruba, and Trinidad and Tobago.
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This species has been introduced to other West Indian countries including The Bahamas where it was first observed on Great Stirrup Cay (Berry Islands) in 1992. It has since established itself on other Bahamian islands such as New Providence, Grand Bahama, Cat Cay, South Eleuthera and Bimini.
Green Iguanas pose a significant threat to Bahamian biosecurity. Research has shown that Green Iguanas can hybridize with Rock iguanas which can permanently contaminate the genetic line of endemic Bahamian Rock Iguanas. At least one Green Iguana was observed on Andros Island, where the endemic Andros Rock Iguana resides. Green Iguanas consume a wide range of plants including protected species like mangroves, landscaping plants and plants of agricultural interest. Being seed dispersers, they also contribute to the spread of invasive plants and can transmit salmonella to humans. These reasons, along with being able to produce up to 70 eggs a year (compared to our Rock Iguanas which can lay 3 to 30 eggs), makes them a major invasive species in The Bahamas and require active and consistent management to control its populations in the country.
Hybrid slider turtle in Lakeview Pond
As mentioned above, hybridization can have serious negative consequences to native species. One such example is the hybridization between the invasive Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) and the native Cat Island Slider (Trachemys terrapen), a vulnerable native species. This is especially problematic on the island of New Providence where both species reside. The Red-eared Slider has also been observed on Eleuthera, which has one of the largest and last remaining pure populations of Cat Island sliders in the country.
Additionally, invasive predators such as the Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris), known to prey upon smaller anole species, have the potential to outcompete and displace native lizards in areas where their populations become established. These impacts underscore the broader ecological risks associated with invasive reptiles, emphasizing the urgent need for monitoring and management efforts to mitigate their spread and preserve The Bahamas' unique reptilian biodiversity.
Cuban Knight Anole
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The Bahamas is home to many native reptiles, but these species face threats from invasive reptiles and amphibians, which often arrive via cargo ships and yachts, primarily from Florida. Over the past few decades, researchers have documented numerous new species in the country. While not all pose a threat, invasive species like the Green Iguana and Black-spiny-tailed Iguana are particularly problematic. The Green Iguana, one of the world’s most invasive animals, has established populations in several areas of The Bahamas, threatening the native rock iguanas by competing for resources and potentially hybridizing with them, which could lead to the loss of pure genetic lines. Another invasive species is the Corn Snake, originally from the southern U.S., which has established itself in various Bahamian islands since the 1990s, potentially outcompeting native species for space and food. With climate change leading to warmer temperatures, these invasive species may experience longer breeding seasons, exacerbating their impact on native wildlife. Immediate reporting of these species is crucial to prevent further damage, and locals are urged to take action to protect the native species from being displaced or genetically altered.
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resources
Breuil, M., Schikorski, D., Vuillaume, B., Krauss, U., Morton, M.N., Corry, E., Bech, N., Jelić, M. and Grandjean, F., 2020. Painted black: Iguana melanoderma (Reptilia, Squamata, Iguanidae) a new melanistic endemic species from Saba and Montserrat islands (Lesser Antilles). ZooKeys, 926, p.95.
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Johnson, S., 2011. A non-native skink on Grand Bahama. Reptiles & Amphibians, 18(4), pp.247-248.
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​Johnson, S., 2018. Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) on New Providence Island, The Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 25(3), pp.212-213.
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​Johnson, S., 2020. First record of a Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) on Andros (Bahamas): A potential threat to endemic Bahamian rock iguanas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 26(3), pp.255-256.
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​ Johnson, S., Buckner, S. and Knowles, D., 2018. Another parthenogenetic species of gecko on New Providence Island, The Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 25(3), pp.215-216.
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Johnson, S. and Francois, K., 2018. First record of an Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) from Paradise Island, The Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 25(3), pp.214-214.
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Johnson, S. and Knowles, D., 2017. Cuban Knight Anole (Anolis equestris) on Great Abaco, Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 24(2), pp.142-142.
​Johnson, S. and Knowles, T., 2019. North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) on Grand Bahama, The Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 26(1), pp.77-78.
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​Johnson, S. and Woods, D., 2016. First record of Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus) on Andros Island, The Bahamas. Reptiles & Amphibians, 23(3), pp.187-187.
​Knapp, C.R., Iverson, J.B., Buckner, S.D. and Cant, S.V., 2011. Conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Bahamas. In Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas Volume 2: Regional Accounts of the West Indies (pp. 53-87). Brill.
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Kraus, F., 2015. Impacts from invasive reptiles and amphibians. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 46, pp.75-97.
López-Torres, A.L., Claudio-Hernández, H.J., Rodriguez-Gomez, C.A., Longo, A.V. and Joglar, R.L., 2012. Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Puerto Rico: is it time for management?. Biological invasions, 14, pp.35-45.
Stephen, C.L., Reynoso, V.H., Collett, W.S., Hasbun, C.R. and Breinholt, J.W., 2013. Geographical structure and cryptic lineages within common green iguanas, Iguana iguana. Journal of Biogeography, 40(1), pp.50-62.
https://dcnanature.org/invasive-iguana/
Walter Jr, E., 2004. Species Profile: The Knight Anole, Anolis equestris, in Southern Florida. Iguana, 11(3), pp.162-163.
Wasilewski, J.A., Krysko, K.L., Wasilewski, N. And Iii, E.F.M., 2022. Efficient nocturnal capture methods for controlling a diurnal and arboreal Invasive lizard species. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 17(1), pp.37-42.