Further phylogenic study of mtDNA haplotypes by scientists at Utah Valley State College has determined that this animal is a valid subspecies and not merely a population variant of the Turks and Caicos Iguana.
Recent studies analyzing the DNA of the three agents causing metagonimiasis found that DNA sequencing supports M. yokagawai and M. takahashii be placed in the same clade, and phylogenic tree analysis supports their genetic similarity.