They live primarily above the ground in vegetation and have short, powerful limbs; sharp claws and a long strong tail that assist in climbing. The large flap of skin (dewlap) that hangs from throat and helps to regulate temperature and males also use it by raising it during display. They will often jump from tree to water using their powerful tail for swimming to escape. They are also able to leap down twelve meters feet without injury. Adult males can weigh up to six kilograms and reach up to two meters in length with females are slightly smaller. Not fussy eaters, they are omnivorous as young, but adults are almost exclusively herbivores; fruits, flowers, leaves; insects and snails opportunistically; young iguanas eat more insects and shift to 95% vegetation as they age. To attract a mate, mature males may turn orange during breeding season. Females lay 10-50 eggs which take 60-85 days to hatch. They live for up to fifteen years. Iguanas can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes. Their tail has weakened vertebrae so the iguana can break free and escape if caught by the tail. Iguanas are also able to whip their tail in defense, leaving behind a stinging welt or worse.
Iguana meat is a valuable source of protein; theoretically, farming iguanas could yield more meat per acre than cattle, while requiring only 70% of what a chicken consumes. With the loss of habitat due to deforestation, iguana farming research is on the rise.
Quick Facts
Diet
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Colour
Vary from beige , tan, cream to black
Weight
10-15kgs
Lifespan
7-10 in the wild but up to 16 in captivity
Predators
Humans, crocodiles, birds of prey take pups.
Conservation Status
Endangered
Distribution
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Habitat
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Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged.