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Definition of jamaican iguana
jamaican iguana
Plural:Jamaican iguanas
jamaican iguana Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, critically endangered species of rock iguana endemic to the island of Jamaica, specifically found in the Hellshire Hills, which was rediscovered in 1990 after previously being considered extinct.
Example
"Conservationists established a captive breeding program to protect the highly vulnerable Jamaican iguana from invasive predators like mongooses."
Word Origin & Etymology
The name combines 'Jamaican' (derived from the Taíno word 'Xaymaca', meaning 'Land of Wood and Water') and 'iguana' (from the Spanish adaptation of the Taíno word 'iwana'). It reflects the specific island habitat of this endemic reptile species.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Jamaican iguana. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/jamaican iguana