THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCIENCE BULLETIN Vol. 51, No. 15, pp. 483-500 September 27, 1978 Ecology and Exploitation of Ctcnosaura s'lmllis Henry S. Fitch^ and Robert W. Hexdersont-CONTENTS Abstract 483 Introduction 483 Materials and Methods 484 Acknowledgements 484 Ecology 484 Habitat 484 Burrows 485 Social behavior 486 Movements 487 Food habits 488 Reproduction 490 Growth 492 Population density 495 Population structure 496 Exploitation 497 Discussion 499 Literature Cited 500 ABSTRACT The giant herbivorous iguanid Ctenosaura similis, of southeastern Mexico and Central Amer-ica, occurs in open woodland or edge habitat in seasonally dry lowlands. Sexual maturity is at-tained late in the second year, ovulation occurs about mid-February, and laying of the eggs (mean 43.4, 12-88) occurs about 5 weeks later. Hatchlings appear about mid-May and have tripled in length at the end of the first year when they are half-grown in length. Females outnumber males 2 to 1; but males are about 1.25 times female length and 1.8 times female weight. Biomass may be several kg per ha (1.67 per ha on a 10 ha sample area in Belize). Each ctenosaur centers its activity at a lookout and shelter; typical foraging radii are from 18.7 m in first-year young to 43.0 m in adult males. Food consists of many kinds of foliage, flowers and fruits, and some animal matter including small rodents, lizards, eggs, and insects. Exploitation of the ctenosaur is heavy in some parts of its range, including Nicaragua, where the species is a common article of diet for country people and also is sold by the hundreds in city markets. As a result, numbers have decreased drastically. Conservation is needed, especially protection of reproductive females, to assure a sustained yield of the flesh, a valuable natural resource. INTRODUCTION ^ UniversitN' of Kansas, Museum of Natural His-^ • •7-• • • i i-,,,,. T ' ,. cn-\A^ Ctenosaura snni ts, a giant iguanid liz-tory, Lawrence, Kansas 66045. ' o b o,,, , n ui x< x/ 1 1 ,,. -ird of southeastern Mexico and Central -Milwaukee rublic Museum, Milwaukee, Wiscon-sin 53233. America, is of extraordinary interest eco-
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