The Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima) is a large arboreal lizard endemic to the Lesser Antilles. It is one of two species of lizard of the genus Iguana and is in severe decline due to habitat destruction, feral predators, hunting, and hybridization with its sister species the Green Iguana. Another common name for it is the West Indian iguana, though this is more commonly used for species of the genus Cyclura. The species was first officially described by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768.
The Lesser Antilles iguana has a more blocky, shortened face than the Green Iguana and lacks the distinctive stripe pattern present along the Green Iguana's tail. The feature that most easily distinguishes these two species is the large, round scale that the Green iguana has below each ear hole but which the Lesser Antillean Iguana lacks. The Lesser Antillean iguana varies in color between different island populations, but the base color tends to be gray, with green splotching on the underside.
They have large pale, ivory colored scales on their heads. The jowls of males are pink and the scales around the eyes are blue. Males are larger than females and are 40cm long, with an 80cm tail when full-grown. Females are two-thirds this size. They are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of upwards of 100 different species of plant. The Lesser Antillean iguana is an endangered species and is found on the IUCN Red List.
About the stamps
The first stamp belong to the definitive series Marianne de la jeunesse, about which I wrote here. About the second stamp I wrote here.
References
Lesser Antillean Iguana - Wikipedia
Sender: Denise
Sent from Gustavia (Saint-Barthélemy / France), on 17.08.2016
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