Sticking strictly to a vegetarian diet, green iguanas spend most of their lives in the rain forest's

canopy.
Photograph by George Grall
Map

Green Iguana Range
Fast Facts
Type:
Reptile
Diet:
Herbivore
Average life span in the wild:
20 years
Size:
6.6 ft (2 m)
Weight:
11 lbs (5 kg)
Did you know?
In Central America, where iguana meat is frequently consumed, iguanas are referred to as
"bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the trees."
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5
feet (2 meters) long and weighing about 11 pounds (5 kilograms).
They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite
difficult to care for properly. In fact, most captive iguanas die within the first year, and many are
either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups.
The green iguanas extensive range comprises the rain forests of northern Mexico, Central
America, the Caribbean Islands, and southern Brazil. They spend most of their lives in the
canopy, descending only infrequently to mate, lay eggs, or change trees.
Primarily herbivores, iguanas are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit.
They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a
branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below. They are also
tough enough to land on solid ground from as high as 40 feet (12 meters) and survive.
Iguanas' stout build gives them a clumsy look, but they are fast and agile on land. They have
strong jaws with razor-sharp teeth and sharp tails, which make up half their body length and can
be used as whips to drive off predators. They can also detach their tails if caught and will grow
another without permanent damage.
Other members of the iguana family include the Fiji Island banded iguana, the desert iguana, and
the Galpagos Islands marine iguana. Their appearance, behavior, and endangered status vary
from species to species.

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For other uses, see Iguana (disambiguation).
Iguana

green iguana Iguana iguana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Iguanidae
Genus:
Iguana
Laurenti,in 1768
Species
Lesser Antillean Iguana, I.
delicatissima
Green Iguana, I. iguana
I guana is a genus of herbivorous lizards native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America,
several islands in Polynesia such as Fiji and Tonga, and the Caribbean. The genus was first
described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen
Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena. Two
species are included in the genus Iguana: the green iguana, which is widespread throughout its
range and a popular pet, and the Lesser Antillean iguana, which is native to the Lesser Antilles
and endangered due to habitat destruction.
The word "iguana" is derived from a Spanish form of the original Taino name for the species,
iwana.
[1]

In addition to the two species in the genus Iguana, several other related genera in the same
family have common names of the species including the word "iguana".
Contents
1 Anatomy and physiology
2 Images
3 References
4 Further reading
Anatomy and physiology
Iguana can range from 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) including their tail. The two species of lizard
within the genus Iguana possess a dewlap, a row of spines running down their backs to their
tails, and a third "eye" on their heads. This eye is known as the parietal eye, visible as a pale
scale on the top of the head. Behind their necks are small scales which resemble spokes, known
as tuberculate scales. These scales may be a variety of colors and are not always visible from
close distances. They have a large round scale on their cheeks known as a subtympanic shield.
[2]

Iguanas have excellent vision and can see shapes, shadows, colors, and movement at long
distances. Iguanas use their eyes to navigate through crowded forests, as well as for finding food.
They use visual signals to communicate with other members of the same species.
[2]

The tympanum, the iguana's ear drum, is located above the subtympanic shield and behind the
eye. Iguanas are often hard to spot, as they tend to blend into their surroundings. Their scale
colors are a mode of hiding from larger predators.
[2]

Male iguanas, as well as other male members of the order Squamata, have three hemipenes.
Untuk kegunaan lain dari Iguana, lihat Iguana (disambiguasi).
Iguana ialah sejenis kadal yang hidup di daerah tropis di Amerika Tengah, Amerika Selatan, dan
Karibia. Pertama kali mereka disebutkan oleh seorang naturalis berkebangsaan Austria Josephus
Nicolaus Laurenti pada tahun 1768. Ada 2 spesies yang berbeda dari jenis kadal ini: iguana hijau
dan iguana Antilles Kecil.
Kedua spesies kadal tersebut memiliki lipatan kulit di bawah rahang, sekumpulan kulit yang
mengeras yang berderet di punggungnya hingga ekor, dan "mata ketiga" di kepalanya. Mata ini
disebut sebagai mata parietal, yang mirip seperti tonggak di atas kepalanya. Di belakang
lehernya ada sisik kecil yang menyerupai paku panjang, dan disebut tuberculate scale. Iguana
juga memiliki sisik besar bundar di pipinya yang disebut sebagai selubung subtimpani.
Iguana memiliki penglihatan yang baik dan bisa melihat bentuk, bayangan, warna, dan gerakan
pada jarak yang jauh. Iguana menggunakan matanya untuk mengarahkannya mengarungi hutan
lebat, untuk menemukan makanan. Mereka juga menggunakan matanya untuk berkomunikasi
dengan anggota spesies yang sama.
Mereka merespon rangsangan visual berupa warna seperti jingga, kuning, merah muda, dan biru
yang terdapat pada substansi makanan mereka.
Telinga iguana disebut timpanum, yang merupakan gendang telinga iguana dan terdapat di kanan
atas selubung subtimpani dan di belakang mata. Ini adalah bagian tubuh iguana yang amat tipis
dan lembut, dan amat penting untuk pendengarannya.
Mereka sering kali sulit untuk diketahui keberadaannya karena kemampuan mereka untuk
menyatu dengan lingkungannya. Warna hijau alaminya sangat membantu dalam
menyembunyikan dirinya dari predator.

What Do Iguanas Eat?
Answer
An Iguana eats insects and foods containing animal protein. It only eats fresh food and drinks fresh
water. It has many small teeth that allow it to split and tear its food instead of chewing. It drinks fresh
water by dipping a large portion of its head into the water and lapping up under surface water.
Iguanas are mostly vegetarians but they may eat small vertebrates and insects while
they are young. They should eat greens, squash, sweet potatoes, fruits , etc. They can be given
cooked rice or pasta as a treat.
Iguana Alam Habitat
Iguana habitat di alam liar umumnya mencakup di daerah tropis, dengan iguana hijau mendiami
hutan hujan tropis Amerika Selatan dan Lesser iguana Antilla menghuni Lesser Antilles,
gugusan pulau ke arah tenggara Hindia Barat. Rincian habitat masing-masing spesies iguana
diberikan di bawah ini.
Green Iguana Habitat
The iguana hijau, juga disebut sebagai iguana umum, ditemukan di hutan hujan di Amerika
Tengah dan Selatan. Spesies ini dapat tumbuh upto iguana panjang 1,5 meter, dari kepala ke
ekor, dan berat hingga 20 lbs. Para iguana hijau pendaki yang sangat baik dan terlihat di pohon-
pohon untuk sebagian besar waktu. Mereka berkisar mencakup dasar di seluruh Brasil, Paraguay,
Meksiko dan kepulauan Karibia. Green iguana juga ditemukan di dalam saku di bagian-bagian
tertentu dari Amerika Serikat, termasuk Texas, Hawaii dan Floris, di mana mereka dianggap
sebagai hama.