Iguana

Categories: Reptile and amphibian stubs | Iguanas | Pet reptiles | Fauna of Mexico

An iguana is a large tropical American lizard, generally any member of the reptile family Iguanidae but specifically members of the genus Iguana. Iguanas are generally vegetarians when adults, though they eat insects and small animals when young, and don't always give up the habit as adults.

Iguanas tend to have tall, flat plates jutting from their back like spines, when adult. Several species are common as pets, especially the Green Iguana in the United States, which can easily grow to six feet long, even in captivity, and when treated well can be docile, litterbox trainable, and even "walked" on a leash. Such pets are either creche-raised, or harvested from the wild in Mexico.

Captured iguanas kept as pets tend to be thin and nervous, often dying from side-effects of the stress of adapting to captivity, though if they're given a large swimming area in which to hide their chances of survival improve, as they live on streambanks in the wild, diving in when alarmed or for other reasons, and are nearly semi-aquatic.

Species of the genus Iguana

(after Frost et al.)

• Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima
• Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
• Marine Iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus

References

• Frost, D.E. and R.E. Etheridge (1989) A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
• Frost, D.R., R. Etheridge, D. Janies and T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.

Iguana, depicted in the 1851 The Illustrated London Reading Book

A Rhinoceros Iguana

An iguana found in Costa Rica

Fijian Crested Iguana.

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