The St. Lucia Whiptail
(Cnemidophorus vanzoi)
Zando
It was unknown to science before 1958. It is considered one of the world’s rarest lizards. Males grow to about 121mm and female to about 95 mm. The St. Lucia Whiptail uses all parts of the offshore islands, but especially clearings. Lives mainly on the ground, but occasionally climbs trees. They eat small live animals, including termites (not ants), scorpions, and springtails, carrion (e.g. dead sea birds) and fruits (e.g. figs, column cactus fruits).
The St. Lucia Iguana
(Iyanola)
Iguana iguana
The St. Lucia Iguana comes from a unique population distinct from other green iguanas. It grows to about 155 cm (6ft) in length, its tail accounting for two-thirds its entire body length. It occurs mainly along the northeast coast of St. Lucia. It is predominantly vegetarian. Females may lay up to 20 eggs in a hole, which she digs.
The St. Lucia Anole
(Anolis luciae)
Zanndoli
Lives in all forest classes from sea level to the mountain peaks, with the possible exception of Elfin Shrubland. Also common in suburban and recreational areas, and present throughout agricultural areas. Diet is varied and includes ants, spiders, crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and insect larvae, often caught on the ground.
Female lays and buries one or two eggs in a shallow nest in the soil.
Saint Lucia Racer
(Liophis ornatus)
The St. Lucia Racer or Couresse Snake is restricted to Maria Islands, its last refuge in the world. It belongs to the Colubridae family. It grows to a length of 92 cm (3ft). The racer feeds on lizards, frogs, and possibly small birds.
The Saint Lucia Fer-de-Lance
(Bothrops caribbaeus)
The Fer-de-Lance is locally called serpent. The head is broadly triangular, showing evidence of large poison glands. It ranges from Roseau to Canaries on the west and Marquis to Micoud on the east. It feeds on birds, and small mammals. The serpent may grow up to 245 cm (8ft) in length. It is a livebearer and may give birth to as many as 70 young. Found in both dry and rain forest
St Lucia thread snake
(Leptotyphlops bruilei)
Breuil’s thread snake, worm snake
Confirmed habitat in Saint Lucia is Deciduous Seasonal Forest and Littoral Shrubland (on Maria Major and the coastal main island), less than 100 metres above sea level. Typically found in soil beneath leaf-litter and under rocks.
Thread snakes usually feed on the adults and larvae of ants and termites.
Other species of Leptotyphlops lay between 1 and 12 slender, thin-shelled eggs (1.5–2.5cm in length, and 2–4mm in width), which typically hatch after three months.
St Lucia pygmy gecko
(sphaerodactylus microlepis)
St Lucia dwarf gecko
It can occur from coastal Deciduous Seasonal Forests a few metres above sea level to at least 634m in the Lower Montane Rainforest.
Locally common (e.g. Maria Major, Grande Anse, La Porte), but very patchy. Feeds mainly on ants and other very small invertebrates in leaf litter.
Females with well-developed eggs have been found at La Porte in April. Eggs have been found on Maria Major in April, hatching in May. Incubation time is at least 5.5 weeks.
St Lucia Cribo
(Clelia errabunda)
No confirmed sightings of this endemic snake have been made since the 19th century. It is likely to be extinct. It is found in riparian forest and ravines through dry forest areas, forest gardens and even banana plantations. This snake was usually seen on the ground or in trees up to 12 metres above the ground. Confirmed to eat the Saint Lucia fer-de-lance Bothrops caribbaeus, and probably naturally eat other reptiles.
Reproduction
No data on this species, but the related Clelia clelia lays clutches of 10 to 20