Green Iguana

scientific name

Iguana iguana

size

Weight: up to 18 lbs
Length: 5-7 ft. mostly tail

characteristics

Color: green to dull grayish green with black stripes on tail
Senses: good sense of hear and smell " very good vision
Other: snaps tail in air to use as defense " can loose tail to predator and have it grow back " swims well " falls 40-50 ft. to ground without injury " stores fat under jaws and in necks for when food is scarce " set of pointy scales along back " long fingers and claws " male has dewlap " molt twice a year

Behavior: diurnal " arboreal " may bask and forage in groups " tend to forage in same area " adults spend most of their time immobile resting " can stay under water up to 30 minutes

reproduction/life span

Life span: live 20 yr
Mate. mate in fall, male displays include dewlap extensions, head-bobbing and pushups
Gestation. female carries eggs for 2 mo. " incubation 8-10 weeks
Clutch: lay clutch 12-30 eggs in burrow " may dig pretend burrows to confuse egg predators
Offspring: only 3-10 survive to adulthood " mature at 2 yr

diet

Wild: omnivorous " adults eats mostly leaves and fruit " will eat eggs, insects, small vertebrates, nestling birds " does not drink gets water from food, catching rain and condensation on leaves and flowers

habitat/range

Habitat: Habitat: lower altitudes in tropical rainforest near water " spend most of time 40-50 ft in canopy " juveniles live lower in the canopy as they need more humidity
Range: Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay, Caribbean Islands

status

Cites II

other

important food source known " threatened by habitat destruction, pet trade and over hunting for food " eggs sold as novelty food

oregon zoo exhibit

Amazon

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