Questions for the Iguana Research Team
Here are answers to some of the questions members of the Rock Iguana Research Expedition have received over the past few days:
"What types of fish live in the water? Can you take pictures of them under the water?"
There are hundreds of fish in the Bahamas, but some of the more common fish we might see while snorkeling in Andros include: spotted eagle rays, barracuda, parrotfish, needlefish, snappers, nassau grouper, sergeant majors, bluehead wrasse and nurse sharks. Hopefully you can research some of these fish on your own. Yes, it is possible to take pictures underwater with special waterproof cameras.
"Do the iguanas escape after you spot them? Are they really fast? Do you name them? How do you release them?"
The iguanas escape after being spotted for a couple of reasons. First, they are indeed very fast and much better suited to the rocky terrain and dense vegetation than we are. So they will sometimes simply outrun us. They also know the area well and have holes they can dart into to elude us. Once collected the iguanas are given numbers as a means of identification. This makes it easier to keep track of which iguanas we see and is also easier to work with when processing a large number of animals. When we are finished collecting data, the iguanas are returned to the same area they were caught. One of the reasons this is done is because males are territorial, and we want to make sure they are returned to their home range.
"Can you guys look at the aquatic life in the ocean?"
Since we are in the Bahamas to study iguanas, we have limited ability and time to study aquatic life. We do have the opportunity to see dolphins, fish and invertebrates while we're aboard the research vessel. We also see a lot of plants and birds while we're looking for the iguanas on the islands.
Posted by Dave Freeman, web contributor
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