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Mitchell B, Welch ME, van den Burg MP. Forensic Genetic Analyses of Melanistic Iguanas Highlight the Need to Monitor the Iguanid Trade. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192660. [PMID: 36230401 PMCID: PMC9559298 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The illegal pet trade remains an ongoing, substantial threat to wild populations, especially small insular populations, and can even lead to extinction. Fraudulent activity within the global reptile trade is known to occur, but its identification through forensic applications depends on knowledge of diversity within wild populations. In this study, we assessed the geographic origin of melanistic iguanas (Iguana iguana), which are only found in nations that have never authorized legal export of live animals. Analysis of genetic data from two pet iguanas in the USA flag these as originating from Saba or Montserrat, from which no export permits have ever been issued, confirming their illegal origin. Despite the international trade in I. iguana, in which tens- if not hundreds of thousands of specimens are traded each year, only a handful of individuals have been genetically assessed. Our work highlights the utility of applying forensic genetic techniques to this trade in order to track and discourage illegal activity. Abstract Lizards within the Iguana iguana species complex are among the most common reptilian pets, with the widest natural geographic range among iguanids. Deep phylogenetic divergence distinguishes multiple mitochondrial clades, and several taxonomic changes have recently been proposed. These small populations, typically island endemics, are threatened by numerous factors, including the international pet trade. Recent investigations reveal the absence of required CITES permits for lawful export of animals, providing evidence of ongoing illegal trade. Additional monitoring of trade in iguanas can be achieved through the application of forensic molecular techniques. In this study, two captive melanistic iguanas were genotyped for molecular markers for which geographic distributions of alleles have been established. Mitochondrial sequencing indicates that both animals carry a haplotype known to originate from the islands of Saba and Montserrat, populations taxonomically proposed to be Iguana melanoderma. Genotypes at 15 microsatellite loci are equally consistent with this origin, given the results of a principal component analysis. This first forensic genetic assessment within the extensive I. iguana pet trade highlights the presence of illegal activity. The need for additional forensic assessments of pet-trade iguanas is evident, especially given that their value is driven by variety and rarity, which is further intensified by recent taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaklie Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
| | - Mark E. Welch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
- IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
| | - Matthijs P. van den Burg
- IUCN SSC Iguana Specialist Group, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- BioCoRe S. Coop., Calle Villagarcía 6, 28010 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Urgent International Action Needed to Tackle Illegal Pet Trade in Caribbean Iguana Populations. CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/conservation2020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lizards in the Neotropical genus Iguana are heavily traded for the international pet trade, with unusual colour morphs and rare species commanding high prices. Recent research aimed to understand the taxonomy and phenotypic variation of Iguana in the Lesser Antilles, with those populations now severely threatened by this trade. Although the entire Iguana genus has been on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II since 1977, current levels of trade regulation are proving to be inadequate for the Caribbean Iguana populations, which are declining. This paper presents the case for immediately halting regional commercial trade to safeguard the most vulnerable island populations. We further provide recommendations for trade regulations of other species complexes where the nomenclature used in legislation and the trade industry fall temporarily out of step with new taxonomic changes.
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Breuil M, Schikorski D, Vuillaume B, Krauss U, Daltry JC, Gaymes G, Gaymes J, Lepais O, Bech N, Jelić M, Becking T, Grandjean F. Iguanainsularis (Iguanidae) from the southern Lesser Antilles: An endemic lineage endangered by hybridization. Zookeys 2022; 1086:137-161. [PMID: 35221747 PMCID: PMC8873182 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1086.76079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The newly described horned iguanaIguanainsularis from the southern Lesser Antilles is separated in two easily recognized subspecies: I.insularissanctaluciae from St. Lucia and I.insularisinsularis from the Grenadines. Its former description is completed by the use of 38 new samples for genetic and morphological analysis. Seventeen microsatellites were used to estimate genetic diversity, population structure and the level of introgression with other Iguana species over nearly the whole range of the species. ND4 and PAC sequences were also used to better characterize hybridization and to complete the description of this lineage. The I.insularis population of St. Vincent shows a high level of introgression from I.iguana whereas in the Grenadines, most islands present pure insularis populations but several show evidence of introgressions. Of the two remaining populations of I.insularissanctaluciae, only one is still purebred. The recent identification of this and other distinct insular species and subspecies in the eastern Caribbean, and evaluation of where hybridization has occurred, are timely and important because the native iguanas are in urgent need of conservation action. Among the greatest threats is the ongoing human-mediated spread of invasive iguanas from Central and South America, which are destroying the endemic insular lineages through multiple diachronic introgression events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Breuil
- Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Laboratoire des Reptiles et Amphibiens, Bâtiment 30, 57, rue Cuvier, CP n° 30, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Paris France
| | - David Schikorski
- Laboratoire Labofarm-Genindexe, 4 rue Théodore Botrel, 22600 Loudéac, France Laboratoire Labofarm-Genindexe Loudéac France
| | - Barbara Vuillaume
- Laboratoire Labofarm-Genindexe, 4 rue Théodore Botrel, 22600 Loudéac, France Laboratoire Labofarm-Genindexe Loudéac France
| | - Ulrike Krauss
- Maison du Soleil, Dauphin Road, La Borne, PO Box GM 1109, Saint Lucia, West Indies Unaffiliated La Borne Saint Lucia
| | - Jennifer C Daltry
- Fauna & Flora International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK Fauna & Flora International Cambridge United Kingdom.,Re:wild, PO Box 129, Austin, TX 78767, USA Re:wild Austin United States of America
| | - Glenroy Gaymes
- Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education, Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education Kingstown Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
| | - Joanne Gaymes
- Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education, Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines Science Initiative for Environmental Conservation and Education Kingstown Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
| | - Olivier Lepais
- INRAE, Univ. Bordeaux, BIOGECO, 69 route d'Arcachon, 33612 Cestas Cedex, France Univ. Bordeaux Bordeaux France
| | - Nicolas Bech
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe EES, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, 5 rue Albert Turpin, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France Université de Poitiers Poitiers France
| | - Mišel Jelić
- Department of Natural Sciences, Varaždin City Museum, Šetalište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera 3, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia Varaždin City Museum Varaždin Croatia
| | - Thomas Becking
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe EES, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, 5 rue Albert Turpin, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France Université de Poitiers Poitiers France
| | - Frédéric Grandjean
- Laboratoire Écologie et Biologie des Interactions, équipe EES, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, 5 rue Albert Turpin, 86073 Poitiers Cedex 9, France Université de Poitiers Poitiers France
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