10 Species of Iguanas: An Overview - animals city

 

Content

• Top 10 Types of Iguanas
• 1. Green Iguana
• 2. Cuban Rock Iguana
• 3. Desert Iguana
• 4. Rhinoceros Iguana
• 5. Northeastern Spanish-tailed Iguana
• 6. Chakwala
• 7. Fiji Banded Iguana
• 8. Marine Iguanas
• 9. Jamaica Egana
• 10. Bahamian Rock Iguanas

Iguanas are herbivorous lizards native to tropical regions of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Iguanas live on the ground, in rocks and trees. They have a dewlap and a strip of long scales that runs from the middle of their neck down to their tail. Iguanas use their tails for balance when they climb and to defend themselves. When an iguana feels threatened, it flaps its tail to get away from a predator or other threat.

The most interesting thing about iguanas is that their muscles are basically paralyzed and they go into a state of hibernation when the temperature drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a rare occurrence in warm tropical climates such as those common in Central America but can occur in places like South Florida where they have been introduced by humans.

There are dozens of different species of iguanas. There are 10 species of iguanas, including a few that are endangered.

Top 10 Types of Iguanas:

1. Green Iguana

Green iguana is the most common species and can grow up to five to seven feet tall. These iguanas are often kept as pets. If you are thinking of getting a green iguana, you need to provide it with a large cage, high temperature and humidity.

As herbivores, green iguanas eat only greens, flowers, vegetables and fruits. Although it is native to Brazil and Paraguay, the green iguana is also found as far north as Mexico. There are even some wild populations of green iguanas living in southern Florida, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands, and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. As you may have guessed, green iguanas are green and often have spots and stripes of other colors, including orange, blue, black, and white. These iguanas have spines along their backs, large dewlaps under their chins, and prominent jaws.

2. Cuban Rock Iguana

The Cuban rock iguana lives in colonies all over Cuba and nearby islands. It is a ground-dwelling iguana that grows to about five feet in length and can live for 50 years or more. This iguana is easy to tame but requires a large outdoor enclosure with basking areas. This lizard needs to be handled with care as it has very powerful jaws that can do some serious damage to fingers or toes.

Cuban rock iguanas are green or dark brown with dark bands of color on their bodies. Males are dark gray to brick red, while most females are olive green with streaked stripes or stripes.

3. Desert Iguana

Native to the arid parts of Mexico, California, and Arizona, desert iguanas live a different lifestyle than their green relatives that cling to trees in the tropics. This lizard, which grows to just under two feet in length, spends most of its time on the desert floor and adjacent rocks.

These lizards are white and dark brown in color. This type of iguana is difficult to keep as a pet because it can flatly refuse to eat, even if offered something irresistible like edible flowers.

4. Rhinoceros Iguana

The rhinoceros iguana gets its name from the horn-like protrusions growing on the beaks of the males. These iguanas are a species that many people want to own because of their stunning appearance.

Native to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, rhinoceros iguanas prefer dry rocky forest areas along coastlines. These iguanas have a gray to black coloration to help them hide from predators in their native habitat.

5. Northeastern Spanish-tailed Iguana

Native to Mexico and Guatemala, northeastern spinytail iguanas have distinctive nail scales on their long tails. These lizards are excellent climbers and prefer to live in rocky habitats with lots of rocks to hide in, rock breaks and nearby trees to climb. If given the chance, they will eat small animals, eggs and even anthropomorphs.

Named for the scales that cover their long tails, northeastern spinytail iguanas can grow up to three feet long. These iguanas are nervous, flighty and defensive and won't think twice about biting.

If kept as pets, Northeast Spinytail Iguanas should be kept in vertical enclosures so they have plenty of room to climb.

6. Chakwala

Native to the arid western parts of North America, chakwalas prefer to live among rocks. When frightened, they will seek shelter among rocks and can squeeze themselves into tight spaces and fill their bodies with air. This makes it very difficult for a hunter to access and remove these lizards.

Chukwalas have stocky bodies and can reach a length of about 18 inches. They can be kept in captivity by experienced keepers as long as they are provided with a rocky habitat. These are gray iguanas with light colored spots all over their bodies.

Chikwala are omnivorous which means they can eat a variety of food including vegetables, seeds and insects. If they are kept as pets, they can be fed a diet of hard herbs.

7. Fiji Banded Iguana

This type of iguana is a real beauty with its brilliant bright green color, crested spine and long tail. It is an endangered species found exclusively in the Fiji Islands. While females are solid colored, males have blue or green stripes.

This lizard spends most of its time in trees. This is why they are usually found in areas with more vegetation and trees at least 20 feet tall. These iguanas can grow up to 7.5 inches in length. On rare occasion, a fuzzy-banded iguana will eat insects. These beautiful iguanas live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 25 years in zoos.

8. Marine Iguanas

As the only type of aegona found in the Galapagos, the marine aegona is an endangered species. This iguana is the only marine lizard in the world that can be seen resting on rocky shores.

Growing up to six feet long, marine iguanas are striking creatures with thick bodies and short, strong legs. Adults have a single row of spines extending from the neck to the tail. Marine iguanas can be black or gray with light-colored dorsal stripes. Adult males may be brightly colored during breeding.

These marine reptiles forage for algae in the ocean, which makes up most of their diet. These iguanas live in colonies on rocky shores where they bask in the sun after swimming in the cool water.

9. Jamaica Egana

Jamaica Aegana is the largest native species of Jamaica. This lizard is critically endangered as it faces many threats including invasive species and habitat loss.

Growing up to two feet in length, this iguana is a dark gray, blue or green reptile with a long tail and triangular stripes.

Although Jamaican iguanas were found on many of Jamaica's southern beaches, today they are known only in the Haleshire Hills. It is a dry forested area filled with different types of rocks including limestone.

With its long fingers and sharp claws, the Jamaican iguana can climb tall trees to eat leaves, fruits, and flowers. These primarily herbivorous iguanas will eat insects, snails and other small animals when available.

10. Bahamian Rock Iguanas

Bahamian rock iguanas are among the most dangerous lizards in the world. These brown-pink iguanas with distinctive gray tails can grow up to three feet in length and are found on various islands in the Bahamas. This iguana is important to the people of The Bahamas and is tied to the country's number one industry, which is tourism. Many people visit the Bahamas to see the beauty and the rock iguanas in their native habitat. Bahamian rock iguanas are herbivores, eating leaves, flowers, berries, and fruits. These lizards have long straight tails and short powerful limbs that help them climb trees and rocks.