| Conolophus marthae[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Conolophus |
| Species: | C. marthae |
| Binomial name | |
| Conolophus marthae | |
Conolophus marthae, also knowncommonly as theGalápagos pink land iguana, is aspecies oflizard of the familyIguanidae. Thiscritically endangered iguana is native only to theWolf Volcano in northernIsabela Island of theGalápagos Islands (Ecuador).[2] It has a pink body with some dark stripes, prompting some to call it thepink iguana or theGalápagos rosy iguana. The species was first discovered in 1986, and in 2009 it was identified as a separate species, distinct from theGalápagos land iguana.[4] The speciesC. marthae is the only example of ancientdiversification in the genusConolophus.[5]
A tentativespecific name,rosada, was derived from theSpanish word meaning "pinkish" in reference to the animal's pinkish body color. The term was later abandoned for the formal description; and thespecific name,marthae, was chosen in memory of Martha Rebecca Gentile, the stillborn daughter of the describer Gabriele Gentile.[1][6]
The species was first formally described in early 2009 as being distinct from the other land iguana populations. An initialgenetic analysis of the pink subpopulation indicated that this particular species diverged from acommon ancestor withC. subcristatus andC. pallidus some 5.7 million years past.[7][8] A more recent study indicates that the split is more recent and occurred about 1.5 million years ago.[5]
Conolophus marthae is anatomically similar to the closely related species,C. subcristatus. Both exemplify the typicalsaurian body shape, having squat, quadrupedal bodies with elongated tails. The legs sprawl out to the sides like all lizards, and a row of short spines runs down the middle of the lizard's back starting from the base of the neck to the tail. However, there are a few anatomical differences between the two species. The crest ofC. marthae has been described as somewhat different from that ofC. subcristatus. The most apparent difference is that of coloration – the body ofC. marthae is pinkish with a few wide, vertical dark bands. This is a stark contrast from the yellow-brown coloration ofC. subcristatus.[7] Additionally, theterritorial head-nodding display ofC. marthae is more complex than the display by the other land iguana species.[9]
Theholotype ofC. marthae, which was released after measurements and samples were taken, is an adult male that weighs 5 kg (11 lb), has a snout-vent length of 47 cm (19 in) and a tail length of 61.4 cm (24.2 in).[1]
Individuals of the speciesConolophus marthae first came into the public light in 1986 when park rangers spotted some pink lizards on theWolf Volcano onIsabela Island, but a more thorough study by scientists only began in 2000.[7] This volcano encompasses the entire distribution of the species and the range covers only 25 km2 (10 mi2), at altitudes between 600 and 1,700 m (2,000–5,600 ft).[2]
Fewer than 200 mature individuals ofConolophus marthae remain.[2] When first described, it was suggested that it should be considered acritically endangered species due to its tiny range and population,[7] and this recommendation was followed when theIUCN reviewed its status in 2012.[2] The area where it lives is uninhabited by humans,[10] and also difficult to access, which limits research into the species.[2] The Galápagos pink land iguana is threatened byintroduced feral cats andblack rats, which can take eggs and young.[2] The only native predator of the species is theGalápagos hawk.[2] Other threats are possiblehybridization with Galápagos land iguanas (unknown at present, but has occurred based on genetic evidence), as the ranges of the two species come into contact, and chance events such as eruptions of Wolf Volcano,[2] which has happened as recently as 2022.[11] It has been proposed that acaptive breeding program should be established for the Galápagos pink land iguana, similar to the successful program already established for some populations of the Galápagos land iguana.[2]
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