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By Trevor. Iguana’s. Facts About Iguana’s. Full-grown green iguanas are usually between four and six feet including the tail. The green iguana is a reptile found throughout Central and South America.
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By Trevor Iguana’s
Facts About Iguana’s • Full-grown green iguanas are usually between four and six feet including the tail. • The green iguana is a reptile found throughout Central and South America. • Green or common iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet in other words 2 meters long and weighing about 11 pounds. • They are among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly. In fact most captive iguanas die within the first year. Many are either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups. • The green iguana’s extensive range inhabits the rain forests of northern Mexico Central America. The Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. They spend most of their lives in the canopy decreasing it’s inhabitance only infrequently to mate lay eggs, or change trees. • Mostly iguanas are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened they will leap from a branch, often from great heights and escape with a splash to the water below. They are also tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet (12 meters) and survive. • Iguanas' stout build gives them a clumsy look but they are fast and agile on land. They have strong jaws with razor-sharp teeth and sharp tails, which make up half their body length and can be used as whips to drive off predators. They can also detach their tails if caught and will grow another without permanent damage. • Other members of the iguana family include the Fiji Island banded iguana, the desert iguana, and the Galápagos Islands marine iguana. Their appearance, behavior, and endangered status vary from species to species.
Galapagos Iguana • Galapagos marine iguanas are the world’s only marine lizards. They inhabit the Galapagos Islands and, in the absence of mammalian predators, have adapted well to the harsh marine environment. Superficially they resemble large lizards, though they have evolved blunt noses for grazing on seaweed, laterally flattened tails to assist swimming, and powerful limbs with strong claws to help them cling to rocks. They are grey to black in colour, though during the mating season they may have blotches of coppery green and red on their scaled body which may result from the consumption of a particular seaweed that blooms in the summer months. These iguanas have obelisk-shaped dorsal scales running from the head to the tail. Males are considerably larger than females, though the sexes are similar in appearance. Juveniles also look the same, but are generally darker in colour . Galapagos marine iguanas are the world’s only marine lizards (4). They inhabit the Galapagos Islands and, in the absence of mammalian predators, have adapted well to the harsh marine environment. Superficially they resemble large lizards, though they have evolved blunt noses for grazing on seaweed, laterally flattened tails to assist swimming, and powerful limbs with strong claws to help them cling to rocks (5). They are grey to black in colour, though during the mating season they may have blotches of coppery green and red on their scaled body which may result from the consumption of a particular seaweed that blooms in the summer months. These iguanas have obelisk-shaped dorsal scales running from the head to the tail (6). Males are considerably larger than females, though the sexes are similar in appearance. Juveniles also look the same, but are generally darker in colour (2).
Mexican Spiny Iguana • Found in Mexico, large areas in Central America and islands adjacent to Panama, these 24-36" lizards are great diggers and baskers. They are found around ruins, stone walls, rocky open slopes and branches of large trees along the open borders of the forests. • The Spiny-tailed iguanas tend to be nasty and not tameable like their bigger, green iguana cousins. Juveniles are mostly green, with their adult coloring coming on during their first year. The adult ground color is dark brown-to-gray or black, depending upon the species or subspecies. Most have black mottling on their back. The belly is usually an off- or dirty white. The tail is ringed with specialized spiny scales. While the C. similis has a tall dorsal crest, the other species tend towards very short crests. • Found in wild in groups usually dominated by a major male.
Fifian Crested Iguana • When Fijian Crested Iguanas first hatch from their eggs they are dark green, but after several hours or days their skin becomes bright green and narrow white bands can be seen along their body. Their distinctive crest is also present from birth and can grow up to 1 1/2cm long. Juvenile Crested Iguanas look just like miniature versions of their parents. Females are the same appearance as the males. Adults grow to 31 inches and weigh ¾ of a pound. • Habitat • Crested Iguanas are a rare species restricted to the rain shadow forests of a few scattered islands in the Fiji including the tiny island of Yaduataba. The Fijian Crested Iguana on Yaduataba Island is the only protected population in the world, and there is estimated to be less than 4000 lizards on this island. Due to the small size of each island population, the species as a whole is extremely vulnerable. Their life is spent mostly off the ground amongst the branches and leaves of their forest home. • Diet • A Fijian Crested Iguana's diet is mainly herbivorous, eating a wide variety of leaves, shoots and fruits from trees and shrubs. They will also eat small insects from time to time. Their favorite food is from the "Vau" tree which bears sweet Hibiscus flowers and is also the species of tree they spend most of their time in. • Breeding • Mating season for the Fijian Crested Iguana is from March through to April. They have the longest incubation period of any Iguana in the world - up to nine months. The eggs are white and leathery, with the average number of eggs in a clutch being 4. A couple of weeks before hatching, a brown oval mark appears on the surface of the egg. This marks the spot where the baby crested Iguana's head will pop out of the shell. It can take up to a whole day for the baby Iguana to completely hatch.
Cuban rock iguana • Scientific Name:Cyclura nubila nubilaFamily: IguanidaeAdult Size: One of the world's largest iguanas, with adult males sometimes reaching lengths of 4 to 5 feet long and weights nearly 15 pounds. Range: The main island of Cuba and surrounding islets.Habitat: Mainly on coastal areas across its range • The Cuban rock iguana is one of the world's most impressive iguanas. It is also one of the largest, with adult males sometimes reaching lengths of 4 or 5 feet and weights of nearly 15 pounds. As its name implies, the Cuban rock iguana is found on the island of Cuba. This species (as well as all other members of the Cyclura) are vulnerable due to their remote island habitats. Most Cyclura iguanas are listed as threatened or endangered. • The Cuban rock iguana is being kept in private collections in increasing numbers, and for good reason. Their large, impressive appearance make them a very desirable species to own. Many Cuban rock iguanas are very tame, as well, and make good pets. • This species does best when housed in large, outdoor enclosures that allow it access to natural sunlight and high temperatures. A heated hidebox allows for thermoregulation during cool evenings and days. The Cuban iguana does best on a vegetarian diet consisting of collard greens, romaine lettuce, mustard greens, squash, parsley, figs, papaya and mango.
The End • Iguana’s ROCK!!!!!!
