cape verde's isolation has resulted in the islands having a number of endemic species, particularly birds and reptiles, many of which are endangered by human development. endemic birds include alexander's swift ("apus alexandri"), bourne's heron ("ardea purpurea bournei"), the raso lark ("alauda razae"), the cape verde warbler ("acrocephalus brevipennis"), and the iago sparrow ("passer iagoensis"). the islands are also an important breeding area for seabirds including the cape verde shearwater. reptiles include the cape verde giant gecko ("tarentola gigas").