GREEN IGUANA

ORDER

Squamata

FAMILY

Iguanidae

HABITAT AND RANGE

Green Iguanas are commonly found in southern Mexico and northern and central South America in riverine forest or rain forest. They often stay by rivers for water and are great swimmers.

IDENTIFICATION

Green iguanas are commonly bright green with blue markings in their juvenile stage but become more drab with maturity. Adults have a fleshy dewlap beneath the throat which is larger in the males. Dominant males tend to have bright orange forelimbs and pale heads. All Green iguanas have long legs and toes which help them climb and run fast. They can grow up to 5-6 ½ feet long and can weigh about 11 lbs, although some exceptional specimens as large as 22 lbs have been found.

DIET

Green Iguanas are mostly herbivores. However, they do eat some insects as juveniles or infants, and then become herbivores once they reach the adult state. At that herbivore state, they will eat leaves, flowers and fruit.

REPRODUCTION AND LIFESPAN

Green Iguanas are oviparous and lay eggs. When they lay the eggs depends on the amount of rainfall. They mate in the fall and lay the eggs in the winter. Each time they lay anywhere between 20-40 eggs. The female will carry the eggs for about 2 months before laying the eggs in an underground chamber. The eggs usually hatch around early May, after an incubation period of around 90 days. These animals can live up to 20 years in the wild and captivity.

NOTES

Green Iguanas are great swimmers. If they feel threatened, they will jump from branches or great heights up to 40 feet, and land in the water and swim away. These reptiles may look clumsy and slow, but they are quite fast and agile in trees, in water, and on land. They use their long tail to propel them while swimming and as a whip for defense.