MSU researchers part of iguana hatchling discovery in Cayman Islands
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 team of Mississippi 大象APP students and faculty is among a group of researchers working in the Cayman Islands that may be the first to demonstrate cross-breeding between Green Iguanas and Rock Iguanas is possible.
Three unusual iguana hatchlings from Little Cayman recently were examined by the Cayman Islands Department of Environment. They appear to be hybrids, specifically the offspring of an invading Green Iguana female and a native Sister Isles Rock Iguana male.
To confirm the unexpected discovery, genetics work is now being conducted in the laboratory of Mark Welch, an associate professor and graduate coordinator in MSU鈥檚 Department of Biological Sciences.
Since 2008, the Welch laboratory has been investigating the genetic factors that might limit the viability of Caribbean iguanas to determine how population dynamics and size interact to influence the evolutionary potential of natural populations.
The strangely colored and patterned hatchlings exhibit intermediate characteristics for features that normally distinguish the two species. Cross-breeding is the only credible interpretation, according to Cayman Islands DOE officials.
Cross-breeding between Green Iguanas and Rock Iguanas has never been considered possible because the genetic difference between the two was thought to be too profound.
Little Cayman resident Mike Vallee caught the first of the hybrid hatchlings in the wild. Together, he and fellow resident Ed Houlcroft coordinate 鈥淕reen Iguana B鈥橤onna,鈥 a program of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands that works to preserve the islands鈥 history and biodiversity.
Another two hybrid hatchlings have been caught by MSU biological sciences doctoral student Jeanette B. 鈥淛en鈥 Moss, field assistant Tanja Laaser, and Welch. Though small in size and appearing to possess the long, striped tails of Green Iguana hatchlings, the newly-discovered hatchlings have different-shaped heads.
According to Cayman Islands DOE officials, the hatchlings鈥 bodies possess classic Rock Iguana patterns of dark chevrons and spots, underneath which there appears to be a yellow base color tinged with green.
Welch explained that it is too soon to determine whether the hybrids will be fertile or develop normally. Since their presence in the Cayman Islands poses a serious risk to native Rock Iguanas, the Cayman Islands DOE is investigating the possibility of transferring the hatchlings to the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research for rearing and fertility testing that will take place over the next several years.
Moss and other MSU researchers have joined Green Iguana B鈥橤onna volunteers in searching for additional hatchlings. None have been discovered yet, and it is unknown how many more may have hatched from the hybrid nest and dispersed into the surrounding vegetation.
鈥淭his is a major environmental issue, and this group of volunteers is trying to maintain biosecurity on the island,鈥 Welch said. 鈥淭hey are doing amazing work.鈥
For additional information on the Welch Lab鈥檚 iguana research in the Cayman Islands, visit .
The Department of Biological Sciences is part of MSU鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences. For more, visit or .
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