Iguanas
Modified: 30-11--0001 00:00:00
The Green iguana is a large lizard from South America.It is found over a large geographic area, from Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as on the Caribbean Islands .They are typically about two metres in length from head to tail and can weigh up to 10 kg. Recent discoveries have shown that iguanas, along with several other species popularly kept as pets, are actually venomous which is not a health issue since their venom is not produced in sufficient quantities to be harmful to humans. Some green iguanas have small horns on their snouts between their eyes and their nostrils, while others do not.
Sexing It is possible to determine the sex of a Green Iguana by examining the underside of the hind legs. Males have highly developed femoral pores in this area that secrete scent (females also have fermoral pores but they are small in comparison to those of the males), and are often covered in a waxy substance. In addition, the spiny scales that run along an iguana's back are noticeably longer and thicker in males than they are in females. Very young juveniles are almost impossible to sex.
Behavior Green iguanas are strictly feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots ,they might occasionally consume insects and other small animals if especially in youth they are under stress and have poor food availability .They can be found living in trees and near water, into which they will dive if frightened. Agile climbers, they can fall up to 40 feet and not be fatally injured and can run quickly despite their clumsy appearance. Because of their popularity in the pet trade and as food in Latin America , green iguanas are are considered a threatened species.
When threatened by a predator, green iguanas will attempt to flee, and if near a body of water, dive into it and swim away. If cornered by the threat, they will display the dewlap under their head, stiffen and puff up their bodies, and bob their heads at the aggressor. Green iguanas will also use head bobs and dewlaps in a variety of ways in social interactions, as when, for example, they greet another iguana or to court a possible mate. The kind, frequency and number of head bobs have particular meanings. Social interactions among green iguanas can often involve competition over the best basking spots to soak up sunlight. Iguanas require sunlight to stay healthy because of the heat and uva and uvb light that the sun's rays provide them.
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