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REPTILIA:
SQUAMATA: IGUANIDAE: Iguana
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Iguana iguana
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Green iguana
Text
by Dr. Robert Sprackland.
Photo
at right: adult male iguana, photo by R. G. Sprackland.
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Range:
Forested areas of Central and South America, and
many Caribbean islands. A population has been established near Miami,
Florida.
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Diagnosis:
A large lizard with pronounced dorsal and
gular crests, predominantly green coloring, and a huge posterior chin
shield that is at least as large as the eye.
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Description:
Head covered with large smooth shields.
Dewlap large, with a median row of enlarged pointed scales. Scales along
side of lower jaw extremely large. Body dorsolaterally compressed, with a
single row of enlarged dorsal spines that extends fro the occiput out
along the tail. Tail compressed. Body and tail generally green, but may be
olive or even largely brown, with black, blue, orange and/or white
markings. Tail with black bands. Maximum size to 1.9 m (6 feet), total;
body rarely exceeds 0.6 m (2 feet).
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Natural History:
Green iguanas are the largest plant-eating lizards alive today, and rank
behind only some monitors in overall length. They
are primarily arboreal lizards confined to forested regions. Iguanas can
swim well and are frequently seen in fresh water lakes or rivers.
Iguana on street on the Yucatan
Peninsula, Mexico. Photo by Craig Clayton.
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Reproduction: Eggs
are laid in deep burrows in underbrush or among tree roots. Young hatch at
about 13 cm TL, and are generally very bright green with conspicuous black
tail bands.
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Taxonomy & Relationships:
Only one other species is recognized in the genus, which is restricted to
small islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
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Variation:
There is a staggering amount of variation seen among green iguanas. In
some, there may be one or two flesh triangles on the snout tip; others
have more tan and orange coloring than green; some populations have
shorter bodies and longer spines than others. The species may be very
variable or represent a complex, but virtually no recent systematic
studies have been conducted.
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Additional Comments:
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Type Specimen:
2 syntypes: NRM 114, UUZM Linean collection
#10, confluence of Perica Creek and Cottica River, Suriname.
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Literature:
Avila-Pires,
T. C. 1995. Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Nationaal
Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden.
Sprackland,
Robert. 1992. Giant Lizards. TFH Publications. ISBN: 0-86622-634-6.
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