Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the Introduced Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) in Northeastern Thailand

This study investigates the distribution and habitat suitability of Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758) in northeastern Thailand, with an emphasis on current and future projections under different climate change scenarios. Between 2023 and 2024, 14 public sightings were reported across four provinces, with Nakhon Ratchasima recording the highest number of observations. Five localities, including three in Nakhon Ratchasima, one in Udon Thani, and one in Buriram, confirmed the presence of established I. iguana settlements. Habitat suitability modeling using MaxEnt yielded high predictive accuracy (AUC values of 0.933 for training and 0.952 for testing), identifying key environmental factors such as Precipitation of the Coldest Quarter (bio19), Distance to Water Body (dist_water), and Elevation (dem) as significant contributors to habitat suitability. Current suitable habitat was estimated at 20,179.79 km², with 2.96% of this area located within protected zones. Future projections for 2050 and 2070, under SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5 scenarios, predict substantial increases in suitable habitat, particularly under SSP5–8.5, with total areas of suitable habitat projected to grow by up to 72.75%. These results highlight the species' potential for expansion across the region, emphasizing the need for targeted conservation efforts and management strategies in both protected and non-protected areas.