Green Iguanas, also knows by their Latin name Iguana Iguana, come from tropical areas of Central and South America. They are a large lizard, often growing up to 6 feet in captivity, if they are well fed and housed properly. They have long tails which make up about half of their length.
Despite the name ‘green iguana’, the color of your iguana as it grows may actually change. Although typically a brilliant emerald green when young, their color can change to a duller green or even a grayish or brownish-red color. You may also notice black stripes on them. The amount of sun your iguana receives will affect the color of its skin.
Iguanas are tree dwelling – or arboreal – animals, and pass most of their day climbing around in trees, eating leaves, fruit and flowers. Being up in the branches of the trees also helps them avoid being prey to predator animals that eat iguanas. Iguanas have several physical adaptations that make them perfectly suited to living in the treetops. Their striped green coloring is a great camouflage for them as they crawl among the branches and leaves of the trees. They have feet with long ‘fingers’ and claws that are especially suited to climbing and grasping the branches, and their long tail help them maintain their balance.
Despite their fearsome appearance, iguanas are vegetarians that are hunted as prey by other animals. They have developed keen senses that allow them to avoid predators. With their keen senses of hearing, smell and sight, they can often detect predators long before the predator knows the iguana is around.
One of the iguana’s best defense mechanisms is it’s tail, and it can use it in various ways to protect itself. Not only does it help with balance as the iguana jumps from branch to branch, it can be used as a weapon. Iguanas will swing their tails like a whip when cornered or if they feel threatened. Also, iguanas are very good swimmers, and can use their tail as a rudder when making their getaway.
Iguanas have a few other adaptations that help in their survival in the wild. They’re quite tough, and can survive falls from high in the trees. Male iguanas have a fold of skin under their chin, called a ‘dewlap’. This flap of skin is used to make the iguana appear larger to any threat, and is also used to impress the lady iguanas. Finally, iguanas store fat around their chin and neck during times when they find plenty of food, and this way are more able to survive when food is hard to find.
Lots of people keep iguanas as pets without knowing that they come from the tropics, and have specific habitat, food, and light requirements to survive as pets. If an iguana as pet isn’t cared for properly, they can die very slow and painful deaths. If you are thinking about getting an iguana, please start by learning about it’s care.
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