Iguana is a genus of lizards from the herbivorous reptile category that comes from Central America, South America, Mexico and the islands around the Caribbean sea. In this article you’ll find some interesting facts about this popular reptile.
The Iguana genus was first described by Austrian scientist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768.
The name ‘iguana’ comes from the word Iwana which is the local name of the lizard in the Taino language.
The unique features of Iguana are in the skin folds at the bottom of the jaw, the hard skin is spiked along the spine and has parietal eyes above the head. Iguanas are now quite popularly kept as pets.
Here are 30 amazing facts about Iguana:
1. Iguanas have eyes that work very well to see motion, colors, shadows and see objects at great distances.
2. Iguana’s eye can also be used to communicate with each other.
3. Visual stimulation of yellow, red, orange and blue will get a high response because it is associated with the food they consume.
4. Iguanas have ear in the form of a timpanium.
5. The subtimpani sheath is the outer portion of the Iguana ear that lies behind the eye.
6. Subtimpani sheath is part of skin Iguana thin and soft because it serves to deliver the vibration of sound waves.
7. Iguana colors usually adjusted to the environment to help them avoid predators. They don’t change colors like chameleon though.
8. Iguanas multiply by laying eggs.
9. Incubation period for the eggs until hatching is between 90 to 120 days.
10. There are actually only 2 species of lizards in the genus Iguana.
11. Green Iguana and Antillea Iguana are 2 lizards with genus Iguana.
12. Green Iguana spread from southern Brazil, Paraguay to Mexico and the Caribbean.
13. Green Iguana is included in the list of invasive species because of its high adaptability in new habitats and rapid breeding.
14. The wild populations of Iguana Green successfully live in South Florida, Hawaii and Texas.
15. Green Iguana can grow up to 2 meters in size and weigh up to 9 kilograms.
16. Green Iguana is a reptile that lives in the trees and is active during the day and likes a habitat close to the water.
17. Antillea Iguana is an endemic species in the Small Antilles archipelago.
18. Iguanas from the island of Antilles are threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and entry into the threatened list on the IUCN red list.
19. Antillea Iguana can grow up to a total length of 120 cm from head to tail tip.
20. Species of iguanas from the new Antilles archipelago were successfully grown out of habitat 2 times; Jersey Wildlife Preservation only managed to incubate in 1997 and again incubated 8 tails in 2000.
21. Some other types of lizards such as Sea Iguanas, Black Tailed Iguanas, Blue Iguanas and Jamaican Iguanas are called by the common name Iguana but do not enter into the genus Iguana.
22. Sea iguanas or Amblyrhynchus cristatus are found only in the Galapagos archipelago.
23. Sea Iguanas feed on seaside rocks and have excellent swimming and diving skills.
24. The size of the Sea Iguana varies; the iguanas from the south of the island of Isabela can grow up to 13 kilograms while the Iguanas from the island of Genovesa only grow up to 2 kilograms.
25. Variations of food in the form of algae or seaweed are referred to as the reasons for variations in the size of the Sea Iguanas.
26. Sea iguanas enter productive ages to breed after 3 to 5 years of age for female iguanas and 6 to 8 years for male iguanas.
27. Blue Iguana or Cyclura Lewis is a type of lizard from the Cayman Islands.
28. Blue Iguanas are included in the endangered wildlife list and IUCN red list.
29. Blue Iguana was previously declared a subspecies of Cuban Iguana or Cyclura nubila.
30. Blue Iguana is one of the longest-lived lizards with the longest age record – able to up to 67 years and is likely to reach 69 years.