Common green iguana. Iguanas: description of species. What does the tree iguana eat?

The progenitors of iguanas and other reptiles are dinosaurs. It is believed that the tyrannosaurus rex, their close relative. Many millennia passed, and the ancient dragon changed, turning into a safer creature. Also, they have the genes of birds - pterodactyls, which were subject to the sky. Iguanas, like these ancient creatures, are protected by scaly skin and have sharp claws.

Modern birds have feathers, but look at the paws of birds of prey, they are covered with scales and have pointed claws. Despite the fact that there are related genes between them, this does not prevent hawks from catching iguanas. But the insidious villain is almost always revealed very quickly.

Iguanas have excellent eyesight. Noticing the danger, at one moment they catapult into the water with high altitude. This is not at all dangerous for them, their scaly “clothes” serves as protection for them. And in the water element, they are at home. Holding their breath for up to forty minutes, and slowing down their heartbeat, they dive and swim perfectly.

Mature individuals are quite large and nimble. They spend almost all their time in the branchy crowns of trees. Thin branches may not be safe for their life. Adult lizards sometimes reach thirteen kilograms, and grow about two meters in length - these are incredible titans. They are perfectly adapted to living at a thirty-meter height.

On the planet, there are approximately 4800 different varieties of lizards - and all have different appearances with their own characteristics. A chameleon can change its color depending on environment. His rolling eyes see everything around. The Tokai gecko has wonderful paws of suction cups, with the help of which it moves on any surface, and in any direction. And the Indonesian monitor lizard has poisonous saliva. This is a dangerous predator that kills a buffalo with one bite.

Iguanas have relatives that live on Galapagos Islands- only they are marine. On the shore, they sunbathe and bathe in sea waters. Them favourite dish- algae, which they feast on at the bottom of the deep sea.

Freshwater iguanas are found in the sultry and humid thickets of the South American continent, among the highlands, countless trees and various plants. Here, in a warm deep hole, not far from the water, there are eggs that are waiting in the wings.

Of these, not chicks will appear at all, but small cubs of lizards - iguanas. They form inside the egg for three months. All of them will see the light almost simultaneously. When the mother lizard lays eggs, she goes home. Iguanas only give life, but do not care for their offspring.

As soon as they set foot on solid ground, they immediately begin to explore the world. For safety, they are kept in small groups. Sticking out their tongues, they get to know each other and explore everything around. They do not yet know what awaits them ahead, and it is still difficult for them to get used to an unfamiliar environment. The first thing to do is to find a safe hiding place.

Being on a rocky terrain, their bright green coloring stands out strongly, attracting predators to itself - this is very dangerous. Little iguanas have many enemies. They find it difficult to survive in the wild and dangerous jungle. In order not to die, they must learn to escape from predators that lie in wait for them behind every pebble, bush or tree.

Their genes lead them to the water, where the elements will help protect themselves a little. Their scales on their feet trap air bubbles, which help the iguana stay on its surface better. They need food and a secure home, and given the small area of the island, this is not at all easy to do.

Despite the fact that the cubs have recently hatched from the egg, they very quickly adapt to the world around them. Inheriting the genetic abilities of their parents, they very quickly climb to the tops of trees. There, in the green foliage, no one will see them, because their coloring serves as an excellent disguise. The human eye will definitely not notice the iguana. But among the tropical, lush foliage, there are other enemies who see them perfectly and want to dine with them, for example, snakes.

Only five percent of the youngsters manage to reach sexual maturity. They must always be on the alert. When the sun goes down, the lizards fall asleep, snuggling up to each other. Although their eyes are closed, but the film on the surface creates the illusion of being awake. Being cold-blooded, the body temperature of a reptile depends on the difference in environmental indicators, which is why they love sunbathing.

Living next to adults, the youngsters benefit from this. Sexually mature iguanas, absorbing plant foods, leave their feces on the leaves of trees, which serves as a good snack for the cubs - this is good for them. In such food, there are a lot of nutrients that contribute to their excellent development.

Until the “youngsters” grow up, they have to be around for several months, because adults do not pay any attention to them. When iguanas grow up, their color will change and spikes will grow on their bodies.

During the mating season, males turn orange to attract the attention of females. They defend their territory, not allowing anyone to cross it. The most dominant male, climbs to the top of the tree, and shows potential brides himself in all his glory.

Making charming movements, with the help of his bright orange gills, he seems to say: “I love you! I'm here!". The female, impressed by this bewitching spectacle, reciprocates the groom. Fertilized future mom travels back to the island to lay eggs. Upon reaching the ground, they bury them to ensure successful development and reliable shelter. Thus, the mystery of the cycle of birth will again take place.

Mature individuals are quite large and nimble. They spend almost all their time in the branchy crowns of trees. With the help of strong claws resembling hooks, they hold on to bark and branches, and a long massive tail acts as an auxiliary tool for maintaining balance. Looking at the appearance of iguanas, you might think that they are carnivores. So what is their diet like? In fact, they are herbivores. They eat a variety of plant foods: flowers, leaves, fruits, vegetables.

iguana species

Anolis bahorucoensis. Native habitat falls on mountain rainforests east island Haiti. The length of males reaches 16 cm, and females from 14 to 14.5 cm. The dewlap in males is poorly developed. Painted in discreet contrasting colors. Trees and abundant, densely growing plants are great for their development. Reptiles breed throughout the year. This is because this small species has many enemies and is constantly in danger. Females lay their eggs in earthen pits under bushes. For their ripening, the air temperature during the day should be 25-28 degrees, and at night 20 degrees of heat. The terrarium for and keeping in the house should be with a humid tropical climate.
anolis equestris. This species lives on the North American continent in South Florida in crowns tropical trees. The largest variety is from 43 to 45 cm long, depending on the sex. They have a bright green color. During breeding, the male holds the female by the back of the head. A clutch of several eggs is done every two weeks. Mature individuals are cannibals. The terrarium for keeping should be spacious at least one meter in height. Eggs after laying are immediately taken away and grown separately in an incubator.
Anolis trinitatis- most common in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. Males reach a length of 7.4 cm, and females 5.7 cm. They have a very wide range of colors: from bright green to blue-green, grayish, blue and yellow. Suspension yellow or orange. They do not live in the depths of the tropics, but along their edge. They lay only one egg every two weeks. At home, they are kept in a terrarium with densely planted plants. A male can live with several females. They eat flies, grasshoppers, etc. But they also like plant foods, for example: bananas.
Anolis marmoratus. The main habitat is in East Coast Guadeloupe islands in the Caribbean. Handsome among their own kind. With bright green pendants and variations of the main color from various tones of green, blue, yellow. They love banana plantations and tall trees. They are kept in a large terrarium in groups of heterosexual individuals.
Basilicus plumifron. The native habitat extends from Panama to Guatemala near water bodies with running water. The male has a beautiful high crest in the head area, which passes to the back. They reach a length of up to 90 cm. Therefore, they are kept in very voluminous terrariums. In addition, it is necessary to maintain constant humidity in the container, and equip it with thick branches. Their eggs are grown in an incubator at a heat temperature of at least 30 degrees.
Ctenosaura clarki. In conditions natural environment found in western Mexico in temperate montane forests. They belong to a variety of black iguanas, medium-sized, they can grow up to 32 cm in length. They live well both on rocky terrain and in green tree crowns, where temperature fluctuations range from 30 to 40 degrees during the day, and at night the indicators drop to 14 degrees. At home maintenance conditions are artificially created for diapause once a year from one to two months at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. Absorb various insects and newborn small rodents.
Crotaphytus collari. The native habitat is in the deserts and semi-deserts of America. They have a beautiful necklace. Females are smaller than males, which grow up to 35 cm in length. Require high temperatures up to 42 degrees of heat, and in winter they need no more than 8 so that they hibernate. After winter rest, lizards begin to breed, laying up to five eggs.
Cophosaurus texana. The habitat is arid semi-deserts in the south of America and northern Mexico. At night, the reptiles partially cover themselves with sand. AT daytime sitting on high places, watching everything around. Very prolific, lay eggs all year round. When carrying them, the female has orange spots on the sides. The area of the terrarium should be large and properly heated, as they are very mobile.
Opulus cyclurus reaching a length of 25 cm, are considered the smallest in Madagascar. They live in the south and southeast of the island in dry and sparse forests. Very fast, in case of danger they hide on the back side of trunks or in hollows of trees. The lizard flees long before it is discovered. For reproduction, this species artificially creates conditions for winter diapause. After that follows mating season. From the masonry, which is kept in an incubator at a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, after 2.5 months, cubs 5 cm long appear.
Phrynosoma platyrhinos. The habitat is the north of Mexico. The coloring and shape of their body are similar to toads. They mostly feed on ants. All winter they hibernate at a temperature of no higher than 8 degrees. They are removed from it by a slow increase in heat. When laying eggs, they burrow into the sand.
Iguana iguana or green- the most popular type of exotic domestic animals. Their length is up to 180 cm, weight 7 kg. Despite the name, the color scheme is diverse, depending on the habitat. They love to swim and eat fruits and vegetables. They breed all year round, laying up to 80 eggs.

Features of the behavior of the iguana

Iguanas are very fond of eating, they are ready to sell themselves with giblets for cottage cheese and dandelion leaves. All travel around the apartment ends at the curtain rod. On warm summer days, they like to bask outside on the grass.

If you have a sexually mature male, then during the mating season, he can show aggression: scratch, bite and beat with his tail. It is better to get a small iguana, so you socialize it and it will be completely tame. Does not like other animals in the house. Always defends its territory.

When she is angry, she tries to appear bigger and her body becomes tense and her skin darkens. When the iguana is relaxed, its coloration brightens and becomes brighter. Then you can calmly stroke it - the lizard will only be happy. You should always watch your pet and feel his mood.

It happens that you showed negligence, and you were bitten by a reptile. In this case, do not pull it to pick it up, otherwise you will pull it together with the skin, due to the specifics of its teeth. Ask a family member to open her jaws either with your hands or with an object.

iguana diseases

Iguanas live up to 10 years. Many diseases are not symptomatic. They can be seen when the stage is already final - running. Their most common disease is a fungus. It manifests itself in the form of flaky spots and dots unusual for them. They have worm infestations.

Also, reptiles can catch a cold, suffering from rhinitis and pneumonia. If they are not properly fed, then inflammation of the stomach may occur. It may be: stagnation of the contents of the large intestine (coprostasis), a violation of mineral metabolism (rickets). Of the metabolic disorders in iguanas, the phenomena of steatite-selenite and the lack of the B-complex are described.

Conditions for keeping a lizard at home

Home equipment- the very first thing is that you need a spacious vertical type terrarium, which will have to be increased as the animal grows. It should have an ultraviolet lamp for heating. The temperature that is maintained in the terrarium depends on the variety of lizard. It also depends on the humidity. Some people like a more humid climate, others a little less. Some even need a small pool for swimming with warm water. Plants can be planted inside and various wood snags can be placed.
Bathing- it's just great if you arrange swims for the iguana in your bathroom several times a week. They love to swim and dive.
Feeding produced half an hour after warming up the iguana. They eat like plant foods: fruits and vegetables. These can be: pumpkin, apples, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries, lettuce, etc. It will not be superfluous if you enrich her diet with calcium, vitamins and minerals.

Buying iguanas

Before you get an iguana, study this animal well and consider whether you want to spend 10 years of your life with it. Familiarize yourself with the correct content of the future pet. If you have already decided on this, then carefully check the conditions for keeping the exotic.

The reptile needs to be carefully examined. Visible flaws: emaciation, visible pelvic bones, damaged skin, lack of fingers and claws. The lizard must: be active, alert, without skin lesions, with a dense and elastic tail and a uniform color.

To better socialize an iguana, it is better to buy a small individual. And an adult is a “pig in a poke”. She can bite, and also have diseases that appear at a late stage. The approximate cost of such an exotic can be from $100 to $500 and more.

About the features of keeping an iguana at home, see here:

Detachment - lizards

Family - iguanas

Genus/Species - iguana iguana

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 1.6-2 m.

Weight up to 4 kg.

BREEDING

Puberty: from 3 years old.

Mating period: depends on the region.

Number of eggs: 25-60.

Carrying: once a year.

Incubation: up to 90 days.

LIFE STYLE

Habits: sometimes lives in groups; active during the day.

What does it eat: leaves, berries, fruits and other plants; young iguanas also eat invertebrates.

RELATED SPECIES

One of the species of this genus is a very rare species that lives only in the Caribbean.

The green iguana is an impressive lizard. She has a long tail and a big head and really makes a strange impression. Her throat pouch and spiked crest are designed to frighten anyone who approaches her. But despite their terrifying appearance, these iguanas are peaceful herbivores.

WHAT DOES IT FEED

The iguana's main food is plants and animals. The diet of an iguana varies with age. Adult animals feed on plants, although in some areas they also eat small mammals and chicks. From plants, reptiles collect leaves, berries and sweet fruits, and also feed on young shoots.

Juvenile iguanas are more brightly colored than adults, as they usually feed on insects and their larvae, spiders, and small invertebrates, for which they often descend to the ground. Sometimes iguanas eat the carrion they find.

The green iguana grows throughout its life. If there is not enough food, the iguana loses weight and sometimes survives only by using its own fat reserves accumulated during the period when there was plenty of food. The female uses the same reserves when digging a hole for the nest, when she does not eat at all.

BREEDING

The mating behavior of green iguanas has been carefully studied by researchers. After mating, the fertilized female lays her eggs in a 30 cm deep hole, which she digs in the ground. A constant temperature is maintained in the hole, which is necessary for the development of the cubs. The hole is also a hiding place from enemies.

The female of this reptile digs a hole with its front limbs, and throws the earth out of it with its hind limbs. While digging a hole, she sometimes leaves the place of "work" to rest. At the end of the hole, the female makes a depression in which she lays her eggs. The number of eggs depends on the size of the female and ranges from 25 to 60. Then the female diligently fills the hole and rams the ground with her head. After that, she runs past it several times to confuse the tracks and close the access of predators to the eggs.The cubs hatch, depending on the temperature, after 65-70 days.The newborn cubs of the iguana are bright green in color, 20 cm long.

HABITS

In most areas of residence, the green iguana is quite numerous. Her natural places habitats - marshlands, sea coasts and savannah, however, the most familiar habitat for iguanas is the rainforest.

The iguana climbs trees well, deftly jumping from branch to branch, and therefore inhabits all tiers of the rainforest - from the ground to the crowns of trees, even at a height of up to 30-40 m. The iguana descends to the ground in the evening, in search of food. She hides in the jungle among the leaves of the trees. The iguana usually rests on the branches of trees, basking in the sun. Despite the massive body, it easily moves along thin branches. A frightened iguana rushes to the ground even from a height of 5-6 meters and runs hiding in green thickets.

The lizard is happy to be on the branches located above the water, and in case of danger it jumps down, remaining in the water for up to several minutes, until the danger passes.

GREEN IGUANA AND HUMAN

Delicious white meat iguanas and their eggs for many people living in South America is an important source of food. Thanks to the unusual, shocking appearance iguanas, they are willingly bred by amateurs, so they have become a subject of trade. However, in the hands of inexperienced people, many green iguanas die.

Sensing danger, the iguana straightens the spikes on its back and thus tries to scare the enemy.
If the iguana is in a stalemate, it goes on the offensive, using sharp teeth and claws and striking like a whip with its strong muscular tail.
The adult green iguana has little natural enemies, with the exception of large wild cats, crocodiles and boas. Birds of prey and other species of lizards are a great danger to young iguanas, and young individuals often fall prey to them.
On a small island off the coast of Panama, there is an area of 50 m 2 where about 200 green iguanas gather annually to lay their eggs there.
Sometimes several females lay their eggs in one recess - this will later help the newborn cubs to get to the earth's surface faster.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE GREEN IGUANA

Young iguana: lighter coloration, unexpressed throat pouch and spines on the back.

adult male: grey-green scales, a throat pouch and long, curved dorsal spines along the spine.

adult female: she has a lighter body compared to the male, spikes on her back and a smaller throat pouch.

claws: long and curved, help to hold firmly on the branch. The female uses them for digging.

Tail: triple longer than the body, muscular, slightly laterally compressed. In case of danger, it is used as a weapon.

- Habitat of the green iguana

WHERE Dwells

Numerous populations are tropical zone America, from southern Mexico to Paraguay and southern Brazil. It also lives on some islands in the Caribbean.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

Today, the green iguana is not threatened with extinction, however, in many places the population is endangered as a result of hunting and trapping for meat and keeping in terrariums.

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Recently, exotic animals have become popular as pets. Instead of the usual fish, parrots and turtles, moms and dads buy their children giant spiders, snakes, lizards. Animal iguana is also included in the list of beloved pets.

Those who have ever seen an iguana in a pet store probably know that she seems to be thinking about something all the time: she will freeze in one position and only occasionally blink her eyes. And how does this animal behave in conditions wildlife? What does it eat and where does it live?

The common iguana, also called the green iguana, is a reptile belonging to the squamous order, the iguana family.

What does a green iguana look like?

Among all members of its family, the common iguana is the largest. The length of her body can reach 1.5 meters, while an adult weighs, on average, 7 kilograms.

The body of the animal has a varied color, despite the name "green". The common iguana can be bluish, lavender, pink, red, bluish, and even black. The iguana is a cold-blooded animal. Therefore, it is very susceptible to temperature changes.

As for the sense organs of this reptile, we can note excellent hearing, sharp eyesight in bright light. In addition to two eyes, the head of the animal is also equipped with a third, located on the top of the head. Thanks to this eye (it looks like a white scale), the iguana catches the approach of the enemy in time and hides. The iguana is an excellent swimmer, a rather flexible tail helps her in this. The tail also serves as a defensive weapon - with it the animal inflicts heavy blows on the enemy.

To say that iguanas are only green is impossible. Their coloration can be very varied.

Where do common iguanas live?

The habitat of this animal is quite wide. The green iguana is found almost everywhere Latin America, in some countries of South America (for example, in Brazil), and also inhabits some US states. In addition, this representative of the iguana family got along well in the Caribbean.

iguana lifestyle

The green iguana is an arboreal animal: most of its vital activity takes place precisely on the trees. For its residence, it chooses tropical rainforests, tree thickets, but it is also found on open sea coasts.

Active during the daytime. When the weather becomes inclement, the iguana will come down to the ground and spend time there, this helps him to better maintain the temperature balance of his body.

What does the tree iguana eat?

The common iguana is an exclusively herbivore. As food, she chooses shoots, flowers and fruits of plants growing in tropical zones.

iguana breeding

The mating season for these reptiles begins in January - February. At this time, males become quite aggressive; in the fight for a female, iguana fights can often be observed, although in ordinary life this animal is quite peaceful.

65 days after mating, the female digs a deep hole and lays 20 to 70 eggs in it. Eggs have a soft but very durable shell. After 3 - 4 months (if the temperature for the entire incubation period was 30 - 32 degrees), small iguana cubs are born. Outwardly, they are very similar to adult iguanas, differing only in size. Cubs are quite independent. But for the first year of their lives, all hatched "babies" try to keep together in order to be able to defend themselves from enemy attacks. In the third - fourth year of their lives, iguana cubs reach full maturity, including sexual maturity.

Scientists have noted that in the natural environment, animals are able to live only up to 8 years, while as pet An iguana can live two and a half times longer.

Iguana- This large sizes a lizard belonging to the class of reptiles. Some species of these animals are impressive in size, reaching a length of just under two meters, and a weight of 5 to 9 kg.

To iguana features include: scaly skin, as well as coarse folds, spines and spines, and in some cases a sharp ridge on the back, which (as seen in iguana photo) gives the lizards an exotic look and makes them look like prehistoric reptiles.

The size of the scales can be very different, and the strongest of them cover the head of the lizard. The color of animals depends on the variety, as well as on many other reasons, having the ability to change depending on the mood and even the state of health. It can be as gloomy tones: gray or dark blue, green, as well as brighter shades: reddish orange and brown.

The blue spiny iguana, less than 30 cm long, has white and black stripes on its neck, and its skin is covered with light spots. The iguana is an interesting animal, in addition to its impressive antediluvian appearance, it has many other amazing features.

In the lower eyelid of the reptile there is a transparent window, which makes it possible for the iguana to see the environment even if the creature closes its eyes. And if for some reason an animal loses a tooth, a new one can grow in this place. Iguanas have well-developed paws, and fingers have claws. The language of many species of these animals is also unique and is able to analyze smells.

The blue iguana is considered a very rare species of green iguana.

These reptiles are residents of the American continent, but also iguanas live and on some tropical islands, preferring areas with warm and humid climate.

The species of these reptiles are each adapted to their habitat. For example, the tree-dwelling iguana is equipped with special hooks on its limbs that allow it to freely climb trees.

The sand iguana has adapted, hiding from danger, burrowing into the sand, and from the very high speed. The marine iguana has special nasal glands, with the help of which it gets rid of excess salt in the body. There are also rocky, semi-aquatic, steppe and other types of iguanas.

sand iguana

The nature and lifestyle of the iguana

Of the varieties of lizard, green and sea lizards are the most impressive in size. green iguana- a huge reptile, considered the largest representative of this species of animals.

It can be distinguished from others by the crest of spines that runs the length of its body, from head to tail. The life of this animal mainly takes place in the trees, and the lizard descends from them only to fight with its own brethren for the territory that the iguanas defend with great bitterness and tenacity.

But the nature of these frightening-looking animals is not always so bad. iguana lifestyle quite peaceful, and this creature is not particularly dangerous.

The green iguana major representative kind

But she has quite insidious enemies. In nature, it can be large and, as well as some species. But the most terrible enemy of these reptiles is a man who exterminates lizards because of juicy meat and high-quality leather, which is convenient to use for the manufacture of numerous types of haberdashery accessories and other items that are useful in everyday life and are design elements.

Many species of iguanas are quite shy, and settling near water bodies, if there is even a slight danger, they are ready to jump into the water recklessly. But some of them are skilled swimmers.

And, diving deep, reptiles are able to survive without air for half an hour. The marine iguana, more than its other relatives, has successfully mastered aquatic environment, feeling there no worse than a fish, deftly wielding its tail and tucking its paws under it.

The marine iguana can stay underwater for up to half an hour.

This variety also looks impressive, it can be up to 1 m 70 cm long, but it does not pose any danger, and simply loves salt baths. Some of the lizards are so peaceful, but they allow themselves to be tamed.

And many exotic lovers keep such reptiles at home. blue iguana- a small lizard, has an impressive, very beautiful color, as if attracting the eye. iguana price is 25,000 rubles.

However, it is better to keep in mind that such a cute and harmless creature can give the owners a lot of trouble associated with correct content and accommodation. The animal can be purchased with terrarium for iguana that will provide her with the most comfortable conditions.

Keeping a pretty little dragon at home is becoming more and more fashionable, so the number of people who want to keep large green iguanas is growing rapidly.

Home iguana care involves daily heating of the body with a special lamp, since this type of reptile, being cold-blooded, is accustomed to tropical climate and in dire need of strict adherence temperature regime.

Buy iguana there is an opportunity from the breeder, in nurseries, reptile clubs and via the Internet, in many cases delivery of the animal is also provided.

Iguana food

Primarily iguanas eat food of plant origin. Depending on the habitat, these can be cacti, a variety of flowers and other plants.

A pet iguana is usually fed in the morning, and uneaten food is removed after a while so that it does not turn sour. Pets also need to change the water regularly and keep it clean. Animals need more than just plant foods.

However, the diet iguanas at home requires sufficient calcium and phosphorus. It should consist of fruits and vegetables, as well as some grains, herbs and mineral supplements.

Reproduction and life span of the iguana

Varieties animal iguana differ in the way they reproduce. Most iguanas are oviparous, but in special cases, some species are able to give birth to live cubs.

Green iguanas become capable of raising offspring at the age of two, in some cases three years. And their relationship with a partner usually occurs in autumn period. During the mating season, iguanas often show intolerance and aggression.

They start fierce battles with rivals for the attention of their chosen ones. Their actions obey certain laws and resemble a kind of ritual. Even the movements of animals are extremely interesting for their peculiarities. Males during battles exchange signs with each other: sharp tail blows and bows.

Future iguana mothers in the struggle for offspring are also no less aggressive and decisive. Most species of these reptiles lay their eggs in the ground, and in the struggle for a convenient territory for this, they are able to fight with anyone.

baby iguana

One clutch can contain up to six eggs. And green iguanas often lay dozens of them. The cubs hatch after three months. Small reptiles constantly molt, but with age, this process occurs less and less.

Iguanas can live up to ten, and when kept at home, often up to 15 years. However, provide good care such lizards are not at all easy. And sometimes it happens that animals do not live even half of the prescribed period. In most cases, this happens due to non-compliance with the temperature regime and the correct diet.

Systematics

Russian name - Common or green iguana

Latin name - Iguana iguana

English name - Green iguana

Class Reptiles or Reptiles (Reptilia)

Order Squamous (Squamata)

Suborder Lizards (Lacertilia)

Iguan family (Iguanidae)

Genus Real iguanas (Iguana)

The name "iguana" comes from the word iwana in the language of the Taina people, who once lived on the islands of the Caribbean and disappeared with the advent of the conquistadors. The Spaniards borrowed this word and it turned into a scientific Latin language and all modern European languages.

conservation status

The species is quite common, however, it is included in Appendix II of the Convention on international trade- CITES. This means that the trade in these animals must be controlled.

Currently, in some areas of its range, the common iguana suffers from economic activity human and changes in natural landscapes.

On the other hand, by populating the coast of Florida (outside natural range), the common iguana itself causes some harm to local rare species flora and fauna.

View and person

For the first time in European literature the description of the iguana appeared in 1553, when the Europeans conquered Central and South America.

Among the Indians of different tribes (Maya, Moche), the green iguana belonged to sacred animals, she was worshiped or sacrificed to the gods.

At present, the iguana often plays a gastronomic rather than a divine role: many national dishes of Latin American cuisine are prepared from it.

The common iguana is often kept at home in special terrariums. Animals tolerate captivity well, quickly get used to humans and successfully breed. Due to this, the pressure of trapping on natural populations is reduced.

Distribution and habitats

The common iguana lives in Central and South America. Its original natural range covers large area from Mexico south to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as the islands of the Caribbean.

In addition, several populations whose ancestors were lizards brought by hurricanes, accidentally introduced on ships or escaped from captivity, formed in some areas of the United States (Florida, Hawaii, the Rio Grande Valley in Texas). It is these "invasive" (inhabited where they were not previously) populations of iguanas that settled in the United States that cause certain harm to the local flora and fauna (eating plants, occupying the burrows of the rare burrowing owl, etc.).

The habitats of the common iguana are diverse biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly tropical forests, but also mangroves and dry, open coastal areas.

Appearance

Common iguana - enough large lizard, the body length together with the host usually reaches 1.5 m, although individuals are known to be more than 2 m long and weighing over 8 kg. On average, the mass of males is about 4 kg, and females - from 1.2 to 3 kg. The weight of the cubs when hatching from eggs is about 12 g, the length varies from 17 to 25 cm.

Contrary to the name, the color of this iguana is not necessarily green and depends on the age of the animal and the area where it lives. AT different parts range, they can be bluish and blue, lavender and black, pink, orange and even red.

The body is thin, the tail is very long and laterally compressed. A large longitudinal crest is clearly visible on the back and tail, protecting the animal from enemies. The head is tetrahedral, covered with shields. There is a large pouch on the throat, which plays an important role in thermoregulation, as well as in the mating behavior of males. The teeth of the iguana are very sharp, wide and flat with small denticles along the edges. They are located on the inside of the jaw bones, so they are difficult to see, especially in young and medium-sized individuals. The name of one of the fossil lizards is associated with the shape of the iguana's teeth. When in the nineteenth century the teeth of some ancient reptile, according to the shape of the teeth, the researchers attributed it to the giant iguana and called it iguanodon (iguanotooth). Later it turned out that there was no close relationship between these reptiles, but the name remained.

Paws are short with long fingers and sharp claws; both fore and hind legs have 5 fingers. Like most lizards, escaping from enemies, iguanas discard their tail, which then grows back.

The green iguana has excellent eyesight, but only in bright light, at nightfall, the vision of this lizard noticeably deteriorates.

Like most other lizards, the iguana retained a "third eye" - a rudimentary organ located on the top of its head. It is located in a special hole between the frontal and parietal bones of the skull and is covered with a large scale, translucent in the central part. This rudimentary organ does not have a visual function, apparently, it plays a certain role in synchronizing the daily rhythm of the body during the change of day and night in nature, as well as in orienting the animal in space.

Hearing in an ordinary iguana is very thin, but its severity depends on the ambient temperature. At the same time, the ideal temperature is +370, and when it is significantly increased or decreased, hearing deteriorates, especially in the upper range.

Lifestyle and behavior

Green iguanas spend most of their lives in trees, and they are active only during the daytime. On cool nights, reptiles sit on thick branches in the middle and lower tiers of the forest, and with the sunrise they try to climb higher, where they warm themselves for a long time, freezing on a branch. Sun rays increase body temperature, and under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, vitamin D is produced, which promotes digestion. Only after warming up well for several hours, iguanas begin to feed actively. In inclement or cool weather, iguanas stay on the ground, keeping their internal heat.

In the event of a fall from a tree, even from a height of 10-15 meters (which happens quite rarely), iguanas do not break. Falling, they try to cling to the foliage with the claws of the hind limbs.

Iguanas have many enemies in nature: birds of prey and mammals, crocodiles, large snakes. However, in reality, adult large individuals successfully avoid danger. Contributes to salvation from enemies protective coloration lizards and their defensive behavior. In case of danger, most often the iguana flees or, rushing into the water, quickly swims away. During active defense, the lizard inflates the throat pouch and the whole body, hisses and makes head attacks towards the enemy. If such threats do not help, iguanas may bite hard or beat their tail hard.

Nutrition

Common iguanas are exclusively herbivorous, eating leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of about 100 species of tropical plants. They cannot chew food, but only cut large enough pieces of plants and immediately swallow them whole. They rarely drink water, while immersing part of the head in water.

reproduction

In nature, green iguanas become sexually mature in 3-4 years. The start of the breeding season usually occurs in January or February, but depends on the specific habitat.

During the mating season, which lasts about 2 weeks, males choose the place where mating will take place, mark the territory with secretions from special pores located on the limbs, and become aggressive towards potential rivals. However, in nature, real fights between males are rare, weaker males prefer to “leave the battlefield”. The display behavior of the male is often shaking his head, swelling the throat pouch and changing the color to a brighter one. This type of iguana is characterized by a combination of polygyny and polyandry, i.e. A male can mate with multiple females and a female can mate with multiple males.

Pregnancy lasts 65 days. By the end of this period, females leave their usual habitats and move to dry sandbars and dunes. There, in the sand, they dig holes from 45 cm to 1 m deep, where they lay 20 to 70 eggs. Iguana eggs are white, 35-40 mm long, covered with a leathery soft but dense shell. The process of laying eggs by the female lasts 3 or more days. Sometimes several females lay eggs in one hole. After laying eggs, the female digs in a hole and leaves, no longer caring about the offspring.

Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days at an ambient temperature of 30-32 ° C. Cubs are usually born in May, breaking through the shell with a special growth on the forehead. The cub that has come to the surface is similar in shape and color to an adult iguana, only the crest on its back is smaller. The brood stays together during the first year of life.

Lifespan.

In nature common iguanas live for about 8 years, in captivity can live up to 20 years.

Green iguanas do well in zoos and breed if they are given favorable conditions. Spacious greenhouses with tropical vegetation - ideal conditions for keeping iguanas. In the Moscow Zoo, enclosures with running water are specially equipped for them, where they can climb, bask under a lamp, or hide in a secluded place. Iguanas have repeatedly bred here, and now these lizards can be seen not only at the main exposition of the Terrarium (New Territory), but also at the permanent Reptile Exhibition located in the Old Territory. There are also iguanas in mixed expositions of other departments of the zoo, such as the Exotarium.

Iguanas in captivity are fed 3 times a week. Their diet is very rich and includes cereals, a variety of vegetables and fruits, as well as a small amount of protein food of animal origin (bird eggs, cottage cheese).