Iguana Delicatissima - Anguilla 1997

On 13 October 1997, Anguilla Post issued the official first day cover featured the Lesser Antillean Iguana or Iguana delicatissima. This issue coincide with the WWF stamps which depicts same species.

The Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima) is a large arboreal lizard endemic to the Lesser Antilles.Lesser Antillean iguanas are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of upwards of 100 different species of plant.

The Lesser Antillean Iguana varies in colour between different island populations, but the base colour tends to be grey, with green splotching on the underside. They have large pale, ivory coloured scales on their heads. The jowls of males are pink and the scales around the eyes are blue. Males also have femoral pores along each inner thigh that exude pheromones during breeding season. Males are larger than females and are 40cm  long, with an 80cm  tail when full-grown. Females are two-thirds this size.

The Lesser Antillean Iguana is a vulnerable species and is found on the IUCN Red List.  Other threats are habitat loss to agriculture and development and the introduction of feral predators such as dogs, cats, and the mongoose.