Common iguana

Description

They are mainly green with black stripes on the pointy tail, although the colour will vary depending on the sex, mood and temperature. Males have more intense and striking colours. They have a dewlap hanging from the chin and a crest that goes from the neck to half the length of the tail base. Their long claws allow them to climb and hang on to trees. 

Ethology

They are solitary, diurnal and very territorial during the mating season, attacking with whips of the tail. The male courts the female by shaking its head, opening and closing the dewlap and changing colour. The females lay 10-30 eggs and the incubation period takes 90-120 days. On hatching, the hatchlings measure about 25 cm and weigh about 12 g, and they are independent from that moment. 

Interesting facts

When threatened they shed their tail but the tail will grow back with time, although it never reaches the same size. In Central America and South America, the iguana has been used for food for the past 7,000 years. Apart from consumption of its meat, the other threat it faces is the trade in iguanas as pets.