Cape Spinytail Iguana
Ctenosaura hemilopha
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyIguanidae (Iguanas and Chuckwallas)
- GenusCtenosaura (Spiny-tailed Iguanas)
- SpeciesCtenosaura hemilopha (Cape Spinytail Iguana)
About the Cape Spinytail Iguana
Ctenosaura hemilopha, also known as the Cape spiny-tailed iguana or Baja California spiny-tailed iguana, is a species of spinytail iguana endemic to Baja California. It is arboreal and primarily herbivorous, although it can be an opportunistic carnivore. Males may grow up to 100 centimeters (39 in) in length, while females are smaller, with a length of up to 70 centimeters (28 in). Five subspecies are currently recognized.
The existence of mainland and insular populations of this species has been valuable in providing biologists with study and control groups comparing the evolution of island populations and their mainland counterparts. The San Esteban Island subspecies (C.h. conspicuosa) coexists with the giant San Esteban chuckwalla, contrary to predictions of ecological niche theory.
Ctenosaura hemilopha was first described by zoologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1863. The generic name, Ctenosaura, is derived from two Greek words: ctenos (Κτενός), meaning "comb" (referring to the comblike spines on the lizard's back and tail), and saura (σαύρα), meaning "lizard". Its specific name is a combination of the Greek word hemisus (ήμισυς) meaning "half" and lophos... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Cabo Pulmo National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabo Pulmo National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Cape Spinytail Iguana in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Spinytail Iguana sighting in Cabo Pulmo National Park, based on 31 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Cape Spinytail Iguana in Cabo Pulmo National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Cape Spinytail Iguana in Cabo Pulmo National Park in our monthly data.