Population of nearly extinct Sombrero ground lizard grows 16X in only six years

A nearly-extinct Caribbean reptile is showing signs of a comeback following years of conservation efforts. The population of the Sombrero ground lizard (Pholidoscelis corvinus) has increased from less than 100 individuals in 2018, to over 1,600 in 2024. The huge population jump is detailed in a survey released on December 18.

“The Critically Endangered Sombrero ground lizard is an endemic species, which means it’s found only on Sombrero Island and nowhere else in the world,” Farah Mukhida, a natural resources manager and Executive Director at Anguilla National Trust tells Popular Science. “It’s a beautiful little reptile with its black-blue scales.”