Brachylophus vitiensis

The Fijan crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) is a diurnal arboreal species counting only 4000 specimens in the dry season volcanic island of Taoua Tabu plus other lesser locations of the archipelago of the Fiji Islands. It reaches the 87 cm, tail included, with a more stocky and massive body than the Brachylophus fasciatus and with a showy dorsal crest. The marbled livery is white green but in case of danger turns rapidly black grey. There is no sexual dimorphism excepting the tail slightly longer in the females. After the mating, these ones bury 4-6 eggs, controlled at sight during 9 months, the longest incubation period in the reptilians. Like B. fasciatus, the B. vitiensis nourishes of leaves, fruits and flowers, especially those of the Hibiscus tiliaceus and also this species appears in the “Red List” of the endangered species, menaced by fires, storms, goats, rats and mongooses and cats introduced by the man © Giuseppe Mazza