In only six months, the population of a nearly extinct lizard has grown 16 times.
A nearly extinct Caribbean reptile has begun to show signs of recovery after years of conservation. The Sombrero Ground Lizard population (Pholidoscelis Corvinus) increased from less that 100 individuals in 2018 to more than 1,600 by 2024. A survey published on December 18 details the huge increase in population.
The Sombrero Ground Lizard (Pholidoscelis Corvinus) in 2023. Credit: Justin Springer/Rewild.
Sombrero Ground Lizards are small reptiles that feed primarily on the eggs of birds who nest in the ground, corn and other plants. Sombrero is the northernmost island in the Lesser Antilles, and it’s about 34 miles from the coast of Anguilla. The 94-acre Caribbean island is one of the world’s top 36 biodiversity hotspots. It contains several species found nowhere else. This island is home to the colorful Sombrero Island Bee, a pygmy lizard that has yet to be named, as well as the Sombrero Island Wind scorpion. Farah mukhida, executive director at Anguilla National Trust and natural resources manager, tells Popular Science that the critically endangered Sombrero Ground Lizard is an endemic, meaning it is only found on Sombrero Island. It’s a lovely little reptile, with its black and blue scales. Sombrero Island, too, was once on the brink of environmental collapse. Mineral mining, an invasive mouse population, deforestation and severe hurricanes all took their toll.
“That it’s managed to survive decades of phosphate mining, invasive species, and now climate change with longer periods of drought, higher temperatures, and even stronger hurricanes and storm surges that sweep over the island is absolutely astounding and shows just how resilient this lizard is,” says Mukhida.
Sombrero Island wind scorpian (Antillotrecha iviei) photographed in August 2021. This harmless invertebrate, which is also an endemic species on the island, is a part of its many endemic species. CREDIT: (c) Toby Ross / Fauna & Flora.
Since 2021, major conservation efforts have been focused on removing invasive mice from the island and planting native species. Experts from Anguilla National Trust and Re:wild worked together to assist the Sombrero Ground Lizard and its habitat on the island in recovering. Get the Popular Science newsletter
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“We were absolutely ecstatic when we analysed the results of our population surveys and found this enormous increase in their numbers,” says Mukhida.
The island itself has been declared pest-free and is much more green. The native plants, such as the sea bean and seagrape are showing new growth. Conservationists also express cautious optimism about the future.
A Caribbean Hermit Crab (Coenobita clypeatus), pictured on Sombrero island in June 2021. CREDIT : (c) Toby Ross / Fauna & Flora.
“This is a remarkable recovery for this cheeky, charismatic lizard, but we acknowledge that there is still much to do to ensure their future, and that of the other Caribbean wildlife,” Jenny Daltry said in a press release. She is Director, Fauna and Flora, and Re:wild at Caribbean Alliance. The combined effects of biodiversity loss, and climate breakdown is felt more and more in the Caribbean. We are helping our partners, Jamaica and St Vincent and Grenadines, recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in early this year. The island’s remoteness from the mainland, and the relatively low number of tourists are factors that have helped this recovery. The team will be on constant alert to ensure they are prepared for any new rodent invasions. Continued rewilding will require constant maintenance of the island’s vegetation, which includes building soil reserves and planting additional seeds. A species that is endemic to Sombrero Island. CREDIT: (c) Toby Ross / Fauna & Flora.
“These restoration interventions cascade effects: They attract insects that help pollinate plants; they attract birds who drop seeds; they provide food and housing for lizards which also serve as pollinators, seed dispersers and nutrient carriers,” says Mukhida. We’re committed in helping Sombrero recover, learning from our mistakes, and building upon the successes.
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