Green Iguana
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Green iguana |
| Scientific name | Iguana iguana |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Squamata |
| Family | Iguanidae |
| Genus | Iguana |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Type | Reptile; large, tree-dwelling lizard |
| Diet | Mostly plants, with some fruit and protein |
| Habitat | Humid rainforest trees |
| Native range | Southern Mexico to Brazil and Caribbean islands |
| Size | Up to 6 feet long |
| Colours | Brown to muted green; striped tail |
| Special feature | Spiny back crest and large hanging dewlap |
Among the Most Distinguishing and Prehistoric-Looking Lizards on the Earth
The common iguana (Iguana iguana) or green iguana is an arboreal large species that is generally herbivorous lizard, inhabiting the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Generally, most people refer to this animal as the iguana. Their populations span from Southern Mexico to Brazil, including several Caribbean islands like Curacao, Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Trinidad, and many others.
Anatomy
Because of its pointed dorsal spines, big hanging dewlap and dominant scaled jowls working together, the zoologists classify iguana among the most distinguishing and prehistoric-looking lizards on the earth. Color varies from subdued browns to muted greens, along with a tail having black stripes.
Behavior
These lizards have a strong reputation for natural docility, but they are more active than you may imagine. In the beginning, they are likely to resort to tail thumping but can turn aggressive in the end.
Natural Habitat
The Green Iguana is an arboreal lizard, inhabiting the humid rain forests of South America.
As a Pet
Green iguanas are among the most familiar and widely known lizards of the world. Their striking looks along with a good personality makes their choice as a pet reptile quite popular.
Housing
The larger lizards can grow to a length of six-feet. You may find it challenging to build a cage of appropriate size. The minimum recommended size of the enclosure is six-feet long x four feet wide and four-feet in height.
Heating and Humidity
Green Iguana
The cage should enable the iguana to choose the preferred level of humidity and temperature at any given time. Keep the temperature of the laze-around area at around 95-to-100° F. You can use a halogen flood light for maintaining the desired temperatures (spot light is not good, as its beam proves too strong for the animal)
As this variety of lizard comes from tropical areas, you need to have an enclosure having a 70% humidity level.
Temperature and Lighting
Tropical origin demands temperatures of 75 to 95 degrees F (or 24 to 32 degrees C) for these green iguanas. You must also take care to provide a source of ultraviolet lighting (UVA and UVB) to enable their bodies to develop vitamin D, failing which they will fall a prey to the bone disease if not treated immediately
Food
The green iguana thrives on an 80% vegetable diet, with about 10% of non-acidic fruit and protein 10%. You would do well to avoid store-bought pellets and softened dog food. Easily available iguana foods are tomatoes, green apples, green beans, okra, collard greens and the like. Since the green iguanas are large, you must take care to give them enough nutrients to accelerate their growth. Try dusting their food with vitamin and calcium supplements before feeding.
Breeding
These animals are extremely social and you can grow a pair of male and female together from hatchling stage to improve chances of compatibility in breeding. Temperature manipulation is not critical to the breeding process of these lizards. If you are lucky, you will see the female lay eggs in clutches, totaling 12-30, which she buries and then leaves unguarded. The ideal substrate for breeding is play sand.
Handling
Both males and females, with patient handling can turn into lovely docile pets, enjoying your stroking and rubbing their bodies. They may initially resist, but will soon become tame. However, several notes on green iguana care recommend that you should take particular care not to touch the males on their face after breeding when they are a bit erratic in their behavior. It is not a good idea to leave unsupervised children with these lizards.
Green iguana FAQs
What do green iguanas eat?
Green iguanas are mostly plant eaters. A good diet is about 80 percent vegetables, 10 percent non-acidic fruit and 10 percent protein, such as collard greens, green beans and okra.
How big do green iguanas get?
Large ones can grow up to six feet long, so they need a big cage, at least six feet long, four feet wide and four feet tall.
Where do green iguanas live?
They live in humid rainforests from southern Mexico to Brazil, and on Caribbean islands such as Trinidad, Grenada and St. Lucia. They spend a lot of time in trees.
What do green iguanas look like?
They have pointed spines down the back, a big hanging flap of skin under the chin called a dewlap, and heavy cheeks. They are brown to muted green with a striped tail.
Why do green iguanas need UV light?
UVA and UVB light helps their bodies make vitamin D. Without it they can get a bone disease.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
