Cayman Island Blue Iguana.

The lizard, which is considered to be one of the rarest species in the world, was born on Tuesday morning after a slit in the egg was noticed on Monday.

Head zoo keeper Mr. James Conyers announced yesterday that the iguana, who was the first born to two breeding pairs of iguanas, weighed in at 0.9 ounces and measured just over eight inches. Adult Blue iguana's can measure up to five feet and weigh over 35 pounds.

Zoo keeper Mr. Robin Marirea, who has been responsible for the zoo's iguana breeding programme since 1994, recovered the eggs from a nest burrow in late July this year and had carefully monitored and managed the artificial incubators throughout the incubation period.

"Only 15 animals are held in five zoos outside of the Cayman Islands and the Bermuda Zoo currently has two breeding pairs plus the new baby,'' Mr. Conyers said.

He added that Blue Iguanas have "notoriously low fertility and hatching rate, even in the Cayman Islands which only recorded two hatchings in 1994.'' Mr. Conyers also said Mr. Marirea has been keeping a very watchful eye on the progress of the new baby, which is being maintained at the Zoo's off-exhibit rearing and nursery area.