Studbook breeding programme

Ctenosaura melanosterna

Honduran Paleate Spiny-Tailed

Foto by René Gaal

Annual report 2008

René Gaal studbook keeper Evert Henningheim studbook keeper

KvK nr. 41136106 www.studbooks.eu Contents: 1. introduction 2. studbook population 3. locations 4. births 5. imports 6. deaths 7. transfers 8. discussion 9. References

1. Introduction: In February 2007 the IUCN ( the World Conservation Union) classified the of melanosterna as critical endangered. The need of a studbook was born. 04 June 2007 the Studbook of Ctenosaura melanosterna was a fact. Ctenosaura melanosterna is a Spiny Tail Iguana species from Honduras. It is found on the mainland (Rio Aguan Valley) and on the islands Hog and Cayos Chochinos. The habitat on the mainland is dry subtropical/tropical forest. The habitat on the islands is tropical forest. There are not many in captivity. At the start of the studbook we know only 5 locations where C. melanosterna are kept. 4 in the Netherlands and 1 in the USA. Only 3 locations (Blijdorp, Gaal, Stienen) were interested in joining the studbook. The other two locations can be named traders.

2. Studbook population At present December 31, the studbook population is 3.5.24 (32). The living population however is 2.5.23 (30)

3. Location The 30 living specimens are kept on 6 locations, 3 in the Netherlands and 3 in the U.S.A. .

4. Birth The location Gaal was this year the first with successful breeding of 10 hatchlings in January. The location Stienen hatched only one young in Oktober.

5. Imports There are no imports from the republic of Honduras.

6. Death At the location Gaal one hatchling died.

7. Transfers From the location Gaal 12 hatchlings will be lost for the studbook and will be send to a no participant of the studbook. That was a agreement for the male that was given to Gaal before the studbook was realised.

8. Discussion A living population of 6 (2.4) adult is animals is a very poor for the future. The species has a endangered and protected status in Honduras, so no import will be allowed. In 2008 we started a inquiry for new locations where we hope to find C. melanosterna. We use the old information of locations from W. van der Heuvel . Only one new location we found one female, bus she died after a few months. In 2008 we start a research program for C. melanosterna in the wild and captivity. We are going to rewrite the species Ctenosaura melanosterna. The information we have on this moment is very poor and not enough for a conservation program. More research is necessary. The hole research program is on the auspices of the Iguana Specialist Group/ I.U.C.N., E.S.F and Dutch Iguana Foundation and will take place on the island Cayos Cochinos and the Rio Aguan Valley on the northern mainland of Honduras (wild populations) and on the tree locations (Blijdorp, Gaal, Stienen) of the studbook in the Netherlands (captivity group). More information will be available in 2009. At the same time we start the Assurance Colony project Ctenosaura melanosterna. The goal of the project is to setup a captivity group in several Zoos in Europe. A successful presentation was held at the EAZA annual meeting in Antwerpen. 3 Zoos want to join the project (Blijdorp Zoo Rotterdam, Helsinki Zoo, Schönbrunner Tiergarten Wien). In 2009 Helsinki and Wien will get there first animals from the studbook. More information will be available in 2009.

9. References

Ctenosaura Verzamelnummer deel 1, 2006 S.D.G.L. Ctenosaura Verzamelnummer deel 2, 2006 S.D.G.L. Evidence for the Specific Status of the Honduran Formerly Referred to (Reptilia: :), Larry J. Buckley; Ralph W. Axtell Copeia, Vol. 1997, No. 1, (Feb. 18, 1997), pp. 138-150 Zur Systematiek und ökologie der Schwarzleguane (Gattung Ctenosaura), Gunther Köhler, 1995

René Gaal, Ctenosaura melanosterna Studbook keeper 07 Feb. ‘09