Transcript Iguana`sx - hedges12

By Trevor
IGUANA’S
Facts About Iguana’s
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Full-grown green iguanas are usually between four and six feet including the tail.
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The green iguana is a reptile found throughout Central and South America.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Pictures Of Iguana’s
Galapagos Iguana
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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 obeliskshaped 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 .
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
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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.
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Habitat
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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.
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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.
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
Breeding
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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 nubila
Family: Iguanidae
Adult 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.
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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.
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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