Iguana

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iIguana

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Iguanidae
Genus:	Iguana Laurenti, 1768

Species

Lesser Antillean Iguana, I. delicatissima
Green Iguana, I. iguana

Although iguana can refer to other members of the lizard family Iguanidae, this article concerns members of the genus Iguana. For information on other genera, see Iguanas. For an article on the information on the species of iguana most commonly kept as pets, see Green iguana.

Several species of this genus are common as pets, especially the Green Iguana in the United States and Canada, which can easily grow to six feet long, even in captivity. When treated well they can be docile, affectionate, litterbox trainable, and even walked on a leash. Such pets are either crèche-raised, or harvested from the wild in Mexico. The average life span of a well-cared-for of pet iguana is usually 20 years.

Captured iguanas kept as pets tend to be thin and nervous, often dying from side-effects of the stress of adapting to captivity - though if they're given a large swimming area in which to hide, their chances of survival improve, as they live on stream banks in the wild, diving in when alarmed or for other reasons. As they are cold-blooded creatures, they thrive in humid climates. The Green Iguana needs to be in temperatures of 75 to 90 °F (23 to 32 °C). If it is not kept under UVB lighting it can develop metabolic bone disease.

Iguanas can be considered as an invasive species, along the gulf coast of Florida, especially on Gasparilla Island (where there is an estimated population of over 12000). They commonly hide in the attics of houses, destroy gardens, and in beaches. As an introduced species, they contribute to natural habitat loss, spread salmonella, and could be responsible for the recent decline of the gopher tortoise. This is due to a combination of escaped and intentionally released iguanas which have survived and then thrived in their new habitat.

1 Diet
2 Habitat
3 Species of Iguana
4 References

[edit] Diet

Iguanas as a whole are regarded as omnivores, but they usually tend to eat plants, mainly leaves and fruits. Sometimes iguanas (especially younger ones) will eat eggs, insects and other smaller vertebrae. Note, however, that the feeding of green iguanas (the species most commonly kept as pets) in captivity is a separate issue - although the lizards will eat animal food if presented with it, it has been argued that systematic consumption of animal protein is likely to result in severe health problems and possible premature death ^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Iguanas live in the neotropical rainforest, usually at lower altitudes near a water source (lake, river). They spend most of their time in the higher forest canopy, 15 meters (40-50 feet) above ground.

[edit] Species of Iguana

(after Frost et al.)

Lesser Antillean Iguana, Iguana delicatissima
Green Iguana, Iguana iguana
Marine Iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Blue Iguana Cyclura lewisi

[edit] References

Frost, D.E. and R.E. Etheridge (1989) A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
Frost, D.R., R. Etheridge, D. Janies and T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.