The green iguana or common iguana (Iguana iguana), as it is also known, is a reptile of the Iguanidae Family, within the Squamata Order, and belongs to the lizards from the New World Its intense green color when young is so striking that it has led to it being a highly coveted species by lizard farms. Due to captive breeding, over time several mutations appeared that led to a great diversity of colors in these animals, so today you can find blue, green, yellow, orange or red specimens, among others. And although its maintenance and care do not involve much effort, we must bear in mind that it is a wild animal that requires a lot of space to survive, since they are very large when they reach adulthood.
If you want to know everything about the green or common iguana, continue reading this file on our site where we will explain the characteristics, habitat, feeding and care of the green iguana.
Characteristics of the green or common iguana
The green iguana is characterized by a fairly narrow head, a fairly rounded snout and large eyes with vertical pupils. Their extremities are short, but robust and they have strong fingers finished in sharp nails. The presence of a gular fold (i.e. in the neck area) well developed in malesis another striking feature, in addition to triangle-shaped scales From the top of the head to the tail, there is a row of long, wide scales like spikes. On the sides of the head, however, they have circular shields. Their bright green color fades as they grow, so that when they are adults, the color of their scales allows them to perfectly camouflage themselves in the environments where they live.
It is a species that can reach a large size, up to 2 meters long from head to tail, which is very long, and with a weight that can exceed 15 kg in males.
There is marked sexual dimorphism in this species, since the male has a crest of scales like spines on the head much larger than the female. In addition, its head is less elongated. On the other hand, they have subtympanic membranes that, when they reach adults, are seen as bulges on the sides of the head. Males are also distinguished by the presence of lumps in the cloacal area, which are called hemipenes.
The Baby Green Iguana
When they are born, green or common iguanas measure between 15 and 17 cm and have an intense green color. Green iguanas reach sexual maturity at 16 months, but it is not until 36 months that they are considered adults. At 36 months, a green iguana can be about 70 cm long.
Habitat of the green or common iguana
In general, we can find specimens of green or common iguanas in Central and South America, especially in Mexico, Paraguay and Brazil In the United States, for its part, the green iguana has been introduced in Florida and Hawaii, which are not its natural regions.
In the wild, green iguanas are typical of tropical jungle areas and with abundant vegetation, as well as on riverbanks, grasslands and mangroves, where temperatures are warm with averages of 28 ºC and humidity of up to 70%.
It is an arboreal species, so spends a lot of time in trees and vegetation, especially the adult specimens, supporting themselves thanks to its sharp nails and its long tail. By staying high up in a tree, they have more contact with sunlight. In fact, they only usually go down to the ground to find food, due to the rains and when the females are looking for a safe place to lay their eggs. Young green iguanas, on the other hand, are usually located in the middle zones.
Character and behavior of the green or common iguana
Although it is an arboreal species, its ability to swim is excellent and it is also common to see it on the ground looking for food. In captivity, they quickly get used to human presence, but we must always remember that they are wild animals and gregarious during the mating season, so if they are raised in partner, it is better to do it when they are very young to avoid confrontations when they reach adulthood.
Being ectothermic animals, they need to spend hours in the sun to thermoregulate and be operational, so during the first hours of sun it is common for them to be in the highest parts of the trees. Afterwards, they start looking for food.
As we said, adults always prefer to be in higher areas where it is hotter and less humid, while young people, on the contrary, prefer lower areas of the trees, where the heat is less intense. They are diurnal animals with very established routines, so in captivity it is very important to take this into account, otherwise it can cause stress.
Reproduction of the green or common iguana
The breeding season occurs during the dry season, that is, from April to September, which ensures that the eggs hatch and hatch hatchlings during the rainy season, where conditions are more favorable for their development. Courtship begins first, where both males and females make head and tail movements, while the male attempts to mount a female, who, if receptive, will allow mating.
After mating and about 2 months, the female will lay between 10 and 70 eggsAfter about 100 days, the eggs will begin to hatch. If the breeding is in captivity, it is important to remove the eggs from the terrarium, since the male can eat them, so it is appropriate to have an incubator to place the eggs. Although green iguanas can reproduce in captivity with all the necessary care, it is not recommended to do so, since these animals need a lot of space to develop properly.
Green or common iguana care
We must know very well the energy and ecological requirements of this species before setting up the terrarium. Being a species that grows a lot, the space must be high and wide so that the iguana is comfortable.
Placing a heat source nearby will also help its thermoregulation, always making sure that it is not within the animal's reach. This will allow you to maintain the optimal temperature you need, which during the day should not exceed 35 ºC, while at night the ideal would be around 20 or 22 ºC.
Regarding humidity, as we mentioned, you need a percentage of around 70 or 80 %, which can be achieved by keeping the terrarium moist and with plants and vegetation inside to achieve optimal conditions. Exposure to sunlight is very important, because they depend on it to be able to grow he althy and for the correct assimilation of nutrients and calcium.
For more information, consult this other article on Iguana care and feeding.
Feeding of the green or common iguana
The diet of the green iguana is strictly herbivorousand, contrary to what one might think or recommend, they should not eat meat at any time in its life, since its digestive system is specialized to digest foods of plant origin, so other types of food could harm the iguana.
Within your diet, you can offer vegetables such as fibrous vegetables, such as lettuce, radishes or escarole. You can also feed him some fruit, but not too much, be it kiwi, grapes, pineapples or apples. In addition, they also consume pumpkin flowers, dandelions or clovers
In their natural habitat it is common for them to feed on shoots, leaves and flowers of a wide variety of plant species. On some occasions, they can consume small insects when they feed on leaves, but this can harm them, since they are exclusively herbivorous.
If your green iguana is still a baby, we recommend you read this other article on feeding baby iguanas
Green Iguana He alth
Green iguanas can live up to 15 years in captivity if they are in good he alth. However, there are several problems that can develop. Some of the most common diseases in iguanas are:
- Calcium deficiency: A calcium deficiency can lead to metabolic bone disease. This can be avoided with a good supply of UV rays through sun exposure and, in case of metabolic bone disease, calcium should be supplied through the diet.
- Diarrhea: Diarrhea is also common in captive iguanas, and this may be due to excess fruit and vegetables fresh. The solution would be to give him dry food. However, parasites, stress or unsuitable environmental conditions can also cause diarrhea. If in doubt, you should always consult a veterinarian specialized in wild animals.
- Skin burns or ulcers: These problems are common when exposure to a heat source is prolonged. For this reason, it is necessary to pay close attention to where lamps or other devices are placed, since they must always be out of reach of the animal.
- Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism can also occur due to excessive consumption of carrots, turnips or cauliflower, and can cause lethargy, slow growth and inactivity. If this occurs, this diet should be discontinued immediately.
- Stress: Stress from poor nutrition can cause stomatitis and infections near the mouth, which can even lead to loss of teeth in the iguana, so it is always necessary to be very well informed about all the requirements that this animal needs. In the event of any appearance of a strange and unusual symptom, a specialist should be consulted.
