We document the decimation and recovery of the commonest lizard species, An
olis sagrei, on 66 islands in the Bahamas that were directly hit by Hurrica
ne Floyd in September 1999. Before the hurricane, an island's area was a be
tter predictor of the occurrence of A. sagrei than was its altitude. Immedi
ately after, altitude was a better predictor: Apparently all Lizards on isl
ands Lower than about 3 meters maximum elevation perished in the storm surg
e. After about 1 year, area again became the better predictor. By 19 months
after the hurricane, A. sagrei populations occurred on 88% of the islands
they formerly occupied. Recovery occurred via overwater colonization and pr
opagation from eggs that survived inundation, mechanisms that were enhanced
by larger island area. Thus, natural processes first destroyed and then qu
ickly restored a highly regular species-area distribution.