TRADITIONAL LAUNCHINg - Caribbean Compass

THINK
of wildlife on tropical
islands and, right after
brightly feathered and
raucous birds, you’ll probably picture lizards. Scurrying
up trees, gliding between twigs and leaves, or dashing
through leaf litter, lizards are among the most abundant
animals on most tropical islands.
Unfortunately, not all lizards are as abundant as
they once were.
Visitors to the West Indies may be fortunate enough
to observe the rare dragons of the Caribbean. These
“dragon” lizards are actually nine species of rock iguanas
and two species of common, or green, iguanas that
inhabit the rugged terrains of Cuba, Hispaniola,
Jamaica, the Puerto Rican Bank, the Caymans, the
Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos, and the Lesser Antilles.
Each species is unique to only one or a few islands —
similar to the Galapagos tortoises — and are as distinctive
as the islands themselves.
CHARLES KNAPP
IGUANAS IN
THE STREAM
by Charles Knapp
NN
QUIET CLEAN POWER
Generating 135 hp at a modest 2600 rpm in a 6 liter engine ensures
a long life in a bullet proof package.
This naturally aspirated engine boasts premium engine features for reliability, minimal down time and
service costs. It’s operator and environment friendly with low noise and low emissions achieved with the
new 'QUADRAM' combustion system and fully closed breather system.
The M135 is an excellent repower choice. One of the most compact packages in its class, it has been
designed to permit a wide range of operating angles and also offers easy access to all routine servicing
points in either single or twin installations.
High capacity heat exchange equipment with cupro-nickel tube stacks ensure low component operating
temperatures for exceptionally reliable and durable performance. Leak free operation is ensured by an
integral plate oil cooler and special crankshaft seals giving protection in the toughest conditions.
Competitive engine and parts pricing, extended service intervals and exceptionally low fuel consumption
make the M135 a cost effective choice with significant owner savings over alternative engines.
Call us on (284) 494 2830 for a dealer near you.
M65 M92B M115T M135 M225Ti M265Ti M300Ti
Sabre M135
Left: The Lesser Antillean iguana used to be found on almost
every island from Martinique to Anguilla. It is now restricted
to a few islands, including Dominica. This iguana is endangered
because of cats, dogs, mongoose, hunting,
and development
Below: The Cuban iguana has the largest of all
West Indian iguana populations but is still in need
of protection. This picture shows
two males in combat
—Continued on next page
GLENN GERBER
DECEMBER 2008 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 27