Misconceptions about the ability of researchers to relocate the holotype of the Galapagos pink land iguana through the use of a passive integrated transponder

Abstract

Isla Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos archipelago and hosts three endemic iguanid lizard species (Tzika et al. 2008, Gentile & Snell 2009): Amblyrhynchus cristatus (Bell, 1825), Conolophus subcristatus (Gray, 1831) and Conolophus marthae Gentile & Snell, 2009. The first iguanid listed exists as a marine species and the latter two are restricted to the terrestrial environment. It should be noted, however, that all three species can hybridize and produce viable offspring (Tzika et al. 2008). The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the marine iguana A. cristatus as a “threatened” species and the land iguana species C. subcristatus as “vulnerable”. Currently there are no studies that assess the status of the iguana C. marthae, so its status is given as “not evaluated” by the IUCN.