WCS 3-Sentence Science

Land Iguanas: Say Ahhhh

November 22, 2019

CREDIT: PAUL CALLE

Each year, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists publish more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and papers. “WCS 3-Sentence Science” is a regular tip-sheet — in bite sized helpings — of some of this published work.

Here we present work by WCS’s Zoological Health Program on the health data of two Galápagos land iguana species.

1. Little information exists on their normal health parameter of the Galápagos’ land iguanas, Conolophus pallidus and Conolophus subcristatu.
2. Researchers recorded baseline health data of the two species, analyzing blood samples from 52 iguanas captured on three islands, while also measuring body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body measurements.
3. The data reported will provide preliminary baseline values that may be useful in detecting changes in health status among Galápagos land iguanas affected by human threats, including climate change, or natural disturbances.

Study and Journal: “Health assessment of Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus, and C. subcristatus X Amblyrhynchus cristatus hybrid (Galápagos land iguanas)” from PLOS ONE
WCS Co-Author(s): Paul Calle , WCS Vice President for Health Programs and Chief Veterinarian Zoological Health Program; Karen Ingerman, Veterinary Technician Supervisor Zoological Health Program.

For more information, contact: Stephen Sautner, 718–220–3682, ssautner@wcs.org.