Puerto Rico Critical Wildlife Areas - Puerto DRNA - Gobierno de ...

Virgin Islands boa Epicrates monensis granti have been observed in Diablos cay;
Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata have been seen very frequently in the coral reefs and in
the water surface and also nests in the beaches of Icacos cay, Ratones cay, Lobos cay, Diablo
cay and Palominos islet; Green turtles Chelonia mydas feed on the marine grass Thalassia
testudinum and nest in Palominos Island from June and September; Crested anole Anolis
cristatellus is present in Icacos, Ratones, Lobos, Blanquilla, Konyokí, Diablo, Palominos and
Palominitos; Puerto Rican ground lizard Ameiva exsul is in Icacos, Ratones, Lobo, Blanquilla,
Konyokí, Diablo, Palomino and Palominitos; Common grass anole Anolis pulchellus is in
Icacos, Ratones, Lobo, Blanquilla, Diablo y Palominos; Barred anole A. stratulus in Icacos,
Ratones, Lobo, Blanquilla, Diablo, Palominos and Palominito; Green iguana Iguana iguana
introduced and abundant in Icacos cay; Slippery-backed mabuya Mabuya mabouya sloanii is in
Icacos and in Palomino Island (Cintrón et al. 1990); Nichols’ dwarf gecko Sphaerodactylus
nicholsi towsendi is in Icacos, Ratones, Lobo, Blanquilla, MacKenzie, Konyokí, Diablo,
Palominos and Palominitos; Richard’s blind snake Typhlops richardi is in Diablo, Palominos
and Palominitos (Pinto Rodríguez, unpublished data); Common dwarf gecko Sphaerodactylus
macrolepis (Cintrón et al. 1990).
Threats:
Solid waste disposal in the beaches of the cays leaved by visitors; pollution by boats and
anchorage in the corral reefs. Introduced Green iguanas are abundant on Icacos. Feral cats and
rats are abundant (Cardona and Rivera 1988). Predation by rats, cats and iguanas of sea turtles
and seabirds’ eggs are a threat. There is a population of feral rabbits whose population numbers
are unknown. It is also unknown the date they were introduced (Cintrón et al. 1990).
Conservation Recommendations:
To include Cayo Largo as part of the Natural Reserve; to determine title of the private
Islands and to develop an acquisition plan (PRDNR 1980). To eradicate terrestrial exotics
species, such as rats, cats and green iguanas.
References:
Cintrón, B.; G. Proctor, J. Cardona; and P. Ortiz-Rosas. 1990. Informe sobre el inventario de
Flora y Fauna de Isla Palomino, Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Departamento de Recursos Naturales. 1982. Reserva Natural La Cordillera. Programa de
Manejo de la Zona Costanera. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
_____. 1990. Suplemento Técnico para el Manejo de la Reserva Natural La Cordillera,
Fajardo. Programa de Manejo de la Zona Costera. San Juan, Puerto Rico.
McKenzie, F. and M. Benton. 1972. Biological Inventory of the Waters and Keys of North-East
Puerto Rico. Division of Natural Resources, Department of Public Works. San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
Pinto Rodríguez, B. Unpublished data. Herpetofauna de la Reserva Natural La Cordillera.
Departamento de Recursos Naturales.
57