Real iguanas. Iguana. Dragons of modern times. (Photo and video). Common iguana: reproduction

July 21st, 2013

Common iguana was scientifically described by the Swedish physician and naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his System of Nature. In subsequent years, at least 17 more species and subspecies related to the common iguana were identified, but all of them, with the exception of the Caribbean green iguana, were declared invalid.

In the first half of the 2000s, employees of the American Utah Valley University conducted a study of the phylogenetic origin of the iguana using methods for comparing the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of animals brought from 17 countries. The analysis showed that the species originated in South America, from where it spread to Central America and Caribbean Islands. Despite the variety of colors and other morphological features, the study did not find unique mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, but did show a clear evolutionary divergence between the populations of South and Central America.

The name "iguana" originally comes from the word iwana - the name of the animal in the Taino language (the people who inhabited the islands Caribbean and disappeared with the arrival of the conquistadors). The Spaniards began to call the reptile in their own way - iguana, and then from Spanish the word migrated both to scientific terminology and to all modern European languages.

Most major representative family: the length of an adult iguana usually does not exceed 1.5 m with a weight of up to 7 kg, although in forests South America some individuals can reach a length of 2 m with a weight of 8 kg. In contrast, on semi-arid islands such as Curaçao, lizards are typically 30% smaller in size than animals found on the mainland.

At birth, the length of the cubs varies from 17 to 25 cm with a weight of about 12 g. Despite its name, the color of the iguana is not necessarily green, and largely depends on age and area of ​​residence. In the south of their range, such as in Peru, iguanas look bluish with black spots. On the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and Grenada, their color varies from green to pale purple, black and even pink.

In western Costa Rica, common iguanas appear red, and in more northern regions, such as Mexico, they appear orange. In El Salvador, juveniles often appear bright blue, but their color changes significantly as the lizards get older.

The green iguana is one of the most widespread species of lizard, whose original range covers the tropical regions of the western hemisphere from southern Mexico (the states of Sinaloa and Veracruz) south to central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, east to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean - mainly Grenada , Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent, Utila and Aruba. In addition, in the second half of the 20th century, lizards were introduced to the island of Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, the mainland states of Florida and Texas, as well as Hawaii.

Habitats - varied biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly tropical rainforests, but also semi-humid forests, mangroves and dry, open areas sea ​​coasts. Spends most of its life on trees, usually growing along the banks of slow-flowing rivers. Iguanas are active only during daylight hours.

They spend cool nights on thick branches in the middle and lower tier of trees, but with sunrise they try to climb higher, where they bask for a long time - sunbathing increases body temperature, and ultraviolet radiation produces vitamin D, which promotes digestion. Only after a few hours of basking do the reptiles go down in the canopy in search of food. In inclement or cool weather, the animal stays on the surface of the ground - this way it better retains internal heat.

An excellent climber, the lizard is capable of falling from a height of up to 15 m to the ground without breaking (in this case, when falling, iguanas try to catch the claws of their hind limbs on the foliage). The lizard also swims well, keeping its body completely immersed in water and extending its paws along the body, and moves with the help of sinuous movements of the tail.

In Florida, where iguanas live in coastal areas, they are considered an invasive species that disrupts the ecology of the region. Some of the animals arrived on the peninsula along with hurricanes that came from Mexico and the islands Caribbean Sea. Another wave of “immigrants” traveled in the holds of ships carrying fruit from South American countries.

Finally, some animals were thrown into the street or escaped from their owners, or are descendants of such lizards. Iguanas often cause damage to gardens and green spaces. IN wildlife they eat the leaves of the rare tree Cordia globosa and the seeds of local species of caesalpinia - plants that are the main food of the extremely rare butterfly Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri, which is protected by the International Red Book. On Marco Island, off the west coast of Florida, iguanas occupy the burrows of jackrabbit owls, an owl whose status in the Red Book is listed as vulnerable (category NT).

In the wild, most iguanas begin breeding when they are three or four years old, although some are ready to breed much earlier. The beginning of the breeding season most often occurs in January or February, but can vary depending on the habitat: with a seasonal cycle of humidity fluctuations, mating games occur in the first half of the dry period, egg laying in the second (at this time the soil temperature is quite high, and there is less risk death of the clutch from problems associated with water), and hatching at the beginning of the rainy season, when the young shoots provide an abundance of food for the offspring.

IN mating season, which lasts about two weeks, males choose a future mating site, mark the territory using secretions from pores in the lower parts of the limbs, and become aggressive towards nearby rivals. In the wild, direct clashes between them are quite rare; in the event of a threat, the weaker lizard in the event of a conflict prefers to leave someone else's territory rather than engage in a fight.

If the ability to escape is limited (particularly when kept in captivity), then animals may bite each other. The demonstrative behavior of the male is frequent shaking of the head, inflating the throat pouch and changing the color of the body to a brighter, more saturated one. The combination of polygyny and polyandry is typical for the species, that is, often one male simultaneously courtes several females, and the female cohabits with several males. During courtship, males sniff and lightly nip females on the neck.

Pregnancy lasts about 65 days, at the end of which the females leave their traditional habitats along the banks of rivers, and along the beds of streams flowing into them, they go upstream to dry sandbanks and dunes. A hole with a depth of 45 cm to 1 m is dug in the sand, where the female lays eggs for three or more days. a large number of, 20 to 71, eggs.

The eggs are white, 35-40 mm long, about 15.4 mm in diameter, with a leathery and soft but durable shell. If there is a shortage of suitable places, several lizards can use one pit at the same time. In Panama, there are known cases of joint use of one pit by an iguana and an American crocodile, and in Honduras by an iguana and a crocodile caiman (Caiman crocodilus). Having laid eggs, the lizard carefully buries the hole and leaves the place, no longer caring about the offspring.

Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days at a temperature environment 30-32 °C. The cubs are usually born in May, breaking through the shell with the help of a special fleshy growth on the forehead - a caruncle, and climbing to the surface of the earth. They are almost identical in color and shape to adult individuals, but have only a weakly defined crest.

Young lizards are quite independent, although when they are born they may have a small yolk sac containing a nutritional mixture for the first one or two weeks. The brood stays together for the first year of life. In a group, males use their bodies to protect females from predators - a feature noted only in this species among all other reptiles.

In the wild, iguanas live on average about 8 years. In captivity, with proper care, a green iguana can live more than 20 years.

Unlike most other species of the family, green iguanas are exclusively herbivores, eating leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of about 100 species tropical plants. Thus, in Panama, one of the lizard’s favorite delicacies is the Jamaican plum (Spondias mombin).

Other types of woody vegetation, the greens and fruits of which iguanas most often feed on in nature - incense tree (Bursera simaruba), erect thecoma (Tecoma stans), pointed annona (Annona acuminata), amphilophium paniculatum vine (Amphilophium paniculatum), merremia ambellata (Merremia umbellata ) and etc.

Young lizards often eat the excrement of adult animals to meet their needs for the microflora necessary to digest low-calorie vegetarian food. Animals are not able to chew food; they only cut off fairly large pieces with their small teeth and immediately swallow them whole. Occasionally, iguanas drink water, plunging part of their head into the pond and swallowing it, or lick drops from greenery.

Sometimes in reference literature there are reports that iguanas in the wild also feed on insects. Another source claims that lizards also eat bird eggs and carrion. However, no published academic research confirms that animals digest animal proteins

Moreover, all publications say that all lizard components necessary for development are obtained from food of plant origin only, and a protein diet is harmful to their health. Insects and other small invertebrates may indeed be found in the stomachs of lizards, but experts believe that they are swallowed only by accident along with plant foods: For example, an iguana can swallow an insect sitting on the bed of a flower, along with the flower.

In addition, a hungry lizard can eat an animal for lack of other food. On the other hand, observations at the Miami Seaquarium and Key Biscayne in Florida recorded iguanas eating dead fish. In his book, Philippe De Vosjoly claims that in captivity, lizards can eat rodent meat without any harm to their health.

In ancient times, the Mayans believed that the world was located inside a giant house, and four iguanas, which the Indians called “Itzam,” acted as its walls. Each iguana symbolized a certain side of the world and had its own special color. In the sky, the tails of the iguanas converged, thus forming a roof. The Maya called this house "Itzam Na" (literally "iguana house").

In the classical period, in some cities, Itzamna was revered as a god, personifying not only the iguana, but everything in the world. God was so great and all-encompassing that he was rarely depicted in pictures. At the end of the classical period, the use of the image of the iguana as a deity gradually ceased, however, even in the 16th century, the Spanish missionary Diego de Landa observed how the Indians sacrificed the green iguana to the gods.

The Indians of the Moche culture, which developed in western Peru, also worshiped many animals, including the green iguana.

Numerous figurines and images of this lizard have been preserved, including in the Larco Museum in Lima. Also, one of the most frequently encountered characters in the drawings is a humanoid deity with the head, crest and tail of an iguana. This deity, often accompanied by another deity in the form of a man with a heavily wrinkled face and round eyes, is one of the key figures in the funeral procession.

Scientific classification

• Kingdom: Animals


• Type: Chordata


• Class: Reptiles


• Order: Scaly


• Suborder: Lizards


• Family: Iguanaidae


• Genus: True iguanas


• Species: Common iguana

The real iguana is also known among connoisseurs as green - due to the predominant color in the body color - and ordinary. However, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to describe the appearance and other characteristics of this animal with a second name. This large herbivorous lizard has a calm character and easily takes root in captivity, so it is quite popular among exotic lovers. And yet it cannot be said that keeping a real iguana at home is simple and easy. Like any other exotic lizard, it needs to create suitable conditions, at a minimum - a specially equipped terrarium and an appropriate climate with lighting. The real iguana, like other members of the family, is distinguished, for example, from agamas and chameleons, by the structure of its teeth. In iguanas, the teeth are attached to the jaw not with an expanded apex, but as if sideways. The body color of a real iguana is quite bright, so this lizard is beautiful in its own way. It originates from Central and South America. In size, a real iguana can be called medium, but there are also large two-meter and eight-kilogram individuals.

Classification

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordata
Class: Reptiles
Order: Scaly
Suborder: Lizards
Family: Iguanaidae
Genus: True iguanas
Species: Common iguana, Iguana iguana

Appearance

The body size of a real iguana is directly related to its living conditions. Standard characteristics - body 1.5 meters, weight 5-7 kg. But in the humid South American forests, rich in plant food, the above-mentioned giants are also found. But in arid conditions, for example, on islands, the size of a real iguana is 30% smaller than mainland individuals. Newborn true iguanas reach only 15-25 cm in length and weigh no more than 12 g. Moreover green color The skin pattern cannot be called characteristic of all representatives of the species; it can also change depending on the living conditions and life expectancy of the lizard. Southern true iguanas are predominantly bluish with black spots throughout the body. Among the island reptiles there are green, black, lilac and even pinkish iguanas, northern lizards can be reddish or orange, and Central American iguanas are bright blue when young, but change color with age.
The body shape of true iguanas is narrow, the body continues with a long tail flattened on the sides. A horny ridge runs along the entire ridge, and there is a leathery sac on the throat. The legs of real iguanas are not long with sharp claws to deftly climb trees. There are leathery shields on the head, and transverse rows of scales on the body. By the way, the tail of real iguanas, like many other lizards, tends to fall off, for example, if some enemy grabs onto it, but then grows back.
Sexual dimorphism in lizards is not particularly pronounced, but males have longer spiny scales on the tail than females, as well as a more developed crest. In general, males are larger, more massive and brighter. The teeth of a real iguana, due to their sharpness, could become dangerous weapon However, she rarely uses them, using them only for gnawing plant food. They are shaped like a leaf and seem to be hidden behind the jaw bones. Like marine iguanas, real lizards can also sneeze, removing moisture from the body extra salt. Some Mexican individuals have small horns in the area of ​​the eyes and nostrils.
Young iguanas are most often bright green, this coloring is camouflage, so the iguana is not easy to see in a tree. And the dark stripes along the body allow the lizards to become invisible when they hide in various vegetation. Sometimes iguanas change skin color, for example, from stress, change temperature regime or lighting, but only on certain areas of the body.

Distribution and habitat

Among other iguanas, the real one is perhaps the most widespread on the South American continent. It is mainly found in the tropics, such as southern Mexico. Further, the range continues to central Brazil and countries such as Paraguay, Bolivia, and in the eastern part of the mainland it even covers the nearest islands - Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Aruba, St. Vincent, etc. North America the true iguana was introduced artificially, but today it can be found in the southern and coastal parts of the mainland, for example in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, as well as the Antilles, American and Virgin Islands. In general, a real iguana lives wherever there is woody vegetation and enough moisture. It can be found in tropical forests, in open coastal areas or in thickets near river bodies. And the lizard spends almost all its time in the trees, closer to the crown, where there is the most sun. Only in cool weather do real iguanas descend to the ground. And sometimes the lizard uses the nearest body of water to swim to its heart's content, and it does this surprisingly deftly.

Behavior and lifestyle

Real iguanas are excellent at climbing trees and are not afraid high altitude, falling from which they almost always survive, and even in flight they try to cling to branches or leaves with their claws. The main activity of lizards is during the day, since they see poorly in the dark. But the daytime vision of real iguanas is simply fantastic. Researchers have noticed that lizards generally avoid darkness and try to get out into more illuminated spaces if, for example, they are moved to a darkened part of the room. And whether the amount of light around is appropriate, real iguanas determine with the help of the “third eye” located at the very top of the photosensitive eye. vestigial organ, which today is able to react only to lighting and sudden movements - with its help, iguanas manage to avoid sudden attacks by a predator. Iguanas also have excellent hearing, so they immediately respond to even the slightest sounds. True, when body temperature jumps down or up, the lizards’ hearing worsens. True iguanas also have a good sense of smell. So all her senses allow her to quickly recognize danger and hide from it in the water. Although moisture is not as important for adults as it is for young ones, that’s why young animals live much lower in the trees, closer to the damp ground.
And iguanas swim in a very unique way, vibrating their tail in different directions. Lizards are also capable of moving quickly on land, but if they were unable to escape from the enemy, they will defend themselves aggressively and with remarkable strength, trying to hit with their tail, bite or scratch. True iguanas do not spend the night very high in the trees, but at dawn they climb higher to sunbathe or search for food. Male lizards often engage in fights for territory or display battles for females. And for the local population, real iguanas are the object of hunting, as they have quite tasty meat. But catching a lizard, much less picking it up, is not so easy. Sometimes the food of real iguanas has bad influence on the environment, as they can destroy rare species plants or occupy the burrows of rare and protected animals, for example, the rabbit owl. And about the life expectancy of lizards, it is known that in captivity they live much longer - up to 20 years, while in the wild they rarely live even up to 8 years.

Nutrition

From a nutritional point of view, true iguanas are absolute vegetarians. Their food is various tropical vegetation - leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits. Among the most favorite delicacies are Jamaican plum, incense tree and other exotic plants. Young iguanas are characterized by coprophagy, which is necessary for them to digest plant foods and obtain missing calories. Real iguanas do not know how to chew; they only tear off parts of plants with their sharp teeth and swallow them whole, and obtain water either from the nearest body of water or by licking wet greenery. Sometimes insects and small invertebrates are found in the stomachs of lizards, from which scientists concluded that iguanas also feed on animal food. However, in the end it turned out that these creatures were accidentally swallowed by lizards along with the plants in which they were hiding. But in captivity, real iguanas are sometimes fed rodent meat, albeit in very small quantities, since a protein diet has a detrimental effect on the health of lizards.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity occurs in true iguanas at the age of 3 or 4 years. But sometimes they are able to reproduce earlier. The breeding season for lizards usually begins in winter months, but varies in different areas. For example, in arid areas, mating games of true iguanas begin at the very beginning of the drought, and clutches are made towards the end. The offspring are born during the rainy season, when there is more food available. When the breeding season approaches, males of true iguanas begin to actively search for females, and when they find them, they organize exhibition fights, which for some lizards end in tears. But if there is an escape route, the defeated enemy flees.
The males also choose the place for future mating, and then mark the chosen territory with a special secretion from the pores on the paws. And finally, the courtship begins, or more precisely, the “display performances” of the males, when they become brighter and puff out their throats wide. For real iguanas, as for marine ones, harems are characteristic, both with several females and with several males. There are also special caresses when males sniff their chosen ones and bite their necks.
The gestation period for female true iguanas is about two months, and when it comes to laying, the females go upstream of the reservoirs near which they live and look for dry sandbanks or hills. The clutch settles in a deep hole, which the female digs herself and where she lays many eggs over the course of three days. There can be from 20 to 70 pieces - in a white leathery shell, soft but quite durable. And real iguanas are also characterized by common incubators, when several females lay eggs in one hole, and then bury it and leave it, never returning to this place. In true iguanas, care for offspring is not expressed in any way. The eggs remain in the ground for about 3-4 months. In order for small iguanas to be born, they need to break through the shell using a fleshy “horn” on their forehead, and only then do they emerge to the surface.
In color, the cubs of real iguanas are similar to adult individuals, however, their comb is much less developed. Nature has arranged it in such a way that young real iguanas do not require parental care to survive. Newborn lizards often carry a yolk sac with supplies. nutrients for the first time. And the young prefer to grow up together, since in this case real iguanas have a better chance of surviving, and young males even protect the females from predators with their own body - an amazing and unique feature characteristic only of real iguanas. But not all masonry manages to “realize” its purpose. Many of them are destroyed by the local population, who consider iguana eggs a special delicacy.

The real iguana is also known among connoisseurs as green - due to the predominant color in the body color - and ordinary. However, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to describe the appearance and other characteristics of this animal with a second name. This large herbivorous lizard has a calm character and easily takes root in captivity, so it is quite popular among exotic lovers. And yet it cannot be said that keeping a real iguana at home is simple and easy. Like any other exotic lizard, it needs to create suitable conditions, at a minimum - a specially equipped terrarium and an appropriate climate with lighting. The real iguana, like other members of the family, is distinguished, for example, from agamas and chameleons, by the structure of its teeth. In iguanas, the teeth are attached to the jaw not with an expanded apex, but as if sideways. The body color of a real iguana is quite bright, so this lizard is beautiful in its own way. It originates from Central and South America. In size, a real iguana can be called medium, but there are also large two-meter and eight-kilogram individuals.

Classification

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordata
Class: Reptiles
Order: Scaly
Suborder: Lizards
Family: Iguanaidae
Genus: True iguanas
Species: Common iguana, Iguana iguana

Appearance

The body size of a real iguana is directly related to its living conditions. Standard characteristics - body 1.5 meters, weight 5-7 kg. But in the humid South American forests, rich in plant food, the above-mentioned giants are also found. But in arid conditions, for example, on islands, the size of a real iguana is 30% smaller than mainland individuals. Newborn true iguanas reach only 15-25 cm in length and weigh no more than 12 g. Moreover, the green color of the skin cannot be called characteristic of all representatives of the species; it can also change depending on the living conditions and life expectancy of the lizard. Southern true iguanas are predominantly bluish with black spots throughout the body. Among the island reptiles there are green, black, lilac and even pinkish iguanas, northern lizards can be reddish or orange, and Central American iguanas are bright blue when young, but change color with age.
The body shape of true iguanas is narrow, the body continues with a long tail flattened on the sides. A horny ridge runs along the entire ridge, and there is a leathery sac on the throat. The legs of real iguanas are not long with sharp claws to deftly climb trees. There are leathery shields on the head, and transverse rows of scales on the body. By the way, the tail of real iguanas, like many other lizards, tends to fall off, for example, if some enemy grabs onto it, but then grows back.
Sexual dimorphism in lizards is not particularly pronounced, but males have longer spiny scales on the tail than females, as well as a more developed crest. In general, males are larger, more massive and brighter. The teeth of a real iguana, due to their sharpness, could become a dangerous weapon, however, it rarely uses them, using them only to chew plant food. They are shaped like a leaf and seem to be hidden behind the jaw bones. Like marine iguanas, real lizards can also sneeze, removing excess salt from the body with moisture. Some Mexican individuals have small horns in the area of ​​the eyes and nostrils.
Young iguanas are most often bright green, this coloring is camouflage, so the iguana is not easy to see in a tree. And the dark stripes along the body allow the lizards to become invisible when they hide in various vegetation. Sometimes iguanas change skin color, for example, from stress, changes in temperature or lighting, but only in some areas of the body.

Distribution and habitat

Among other iguanas, the real one is perhaps the most widespread on the South American continent. It is mainly found in the tropics, such as southern Mexico. Further, the range continues to central Brazil and countries such as Paraguay, Bolivia, and in the eastern part of the mainland it even covers the nearest islands - Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Aruba, St. Vincent, etc. The real iguana was brought artificially to North America, but today it can be found in the southern and coastal parts of the mainland, for example in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, as well as in the Antilles, American and Virgin Islands. In general, a real iguana lives wherever there is woody vegetation and enough moisture. It can be found in tropical forests, in open coastal areas or in thickets near river bodies. And the lizard spends almost all its time in the trees, closer to the crown, where there is the most sun. Only in cool weather do real iguanas descend to the ground. And sometimes the lizard uses the nearest body of water to swim to its heart's content, and it does this surprisingly deftly.

Behavior and lifestyle

Real iguanas are excellent tree climbers and are not afraid of great heights, falling from which they almost always survive, and even in flight they try to cling to branches or leaves with their claws. The main activity of lizards is during the day, since they see poorly in the dark. But the daytime vision of real iguanas is simply fantastic. Researchers have noticed that lizards generally avoid darkness and try to get out into more illuminated spaces if, for example, they are moved to a darkened part of the room. And whether there is a suitable amount of light around, real iguanas determine with the help of the “third eye”, located at the very top of the head, a photosensitive rudimentary organ, which today is only able to react to lighting and sudden movements - with its help, iguanas manage to avoid sudden attacks by a predator. Iguanas also have excellent hearing, so they immediately respond to even the slightest sounds. True, when body temperature jumps down or up, the lizards’ hearing worsens. True iguanas also have a good sense of smell. So all her senses allow her to quickly recognize danger and hide from it in the water. Although moisture is not as important for adults as it is for young ones, that’s why young animals live much lower in the trees, closer to the damp ground.

And iguanas swim in a very unique way, vibrating their tail in different directions. Lizards are also capable of moving quickly on land, but if they were unable to escape from the enemy, they will defend themselves aggressively and with remarkable strength, trying to hit with their tail, bite or scratch. True iguanas do not spend the night very high in the trees, but at dawn they climb higher to sunbathe or search for food. Male lizards often engage in fights for territory or display battles for females. And for the local population, real iguanas are the object of hunting, as they have quite tasty meat. But catching a lizard, much less picking it up, is not so easy. Sometimes the diet of true iguanas has a harmful effect on the environment, as they are capable of destroying rare plant species or occupying the burrows of rare and protected animals, such as the owl. And about the life expectancy of lizards, it is known that in captivity they live much longer - up to 20 years, while in the wild they rarely live even up to 8 years.

Nutrition

From a nutritional point of view, true iguanas are absolute vegetarians. Their food is various tropical vegetation - leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits. Among the most favorite delicacies are Jamaican plum, incense tree and other exotic plants. Young iguanas are characterized by coprophagy, which is necessary for them to digest plant foods and obtain missing calories. Real iguanas do not know how to chew; they only tear off parts of plants with their sharp teeth and swallow them whole, and obtain water either from the nearest body of water or by licking wet greenery. Sometimes insects and small invertebrates are found in the stomachs of lizards, from which scientists concluded that iguanas also feed on animal food. However, in the end it turned out that these creatures were accidentally swallowed by lizards along with the plants in which they were hiding. But in captivity, real iguanas are sometimes fed rodent meat, albeit in very small quantities, since a protein diet has a detrimental effect on the health of lizards.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity occurs in true iguanas at the age of 3 or 4 years. But sometimes they are able to reproduce earlier. The breeding season for lizards usually begins in the winter months, but varies in different areas. For example, in arid areas, mating games of true iguanas begin at the very beginning of the drought, and clutches are made towards the end. The offspring are born during the rainy season, when there is more food available. When the breeding season approaches, males of true iguanas begin to actively search for females, and when they find them, they organize exhibition fights, which for some lizards end in tears. But if there is an escape route, the defeated enemy flees.
The males also choose the place for future mating, and then mark the chosen territory with a special secretion from the pores on the paws. And finally, the courtship begins, or more precisely, the “display performances” of the males, when they become brighter and puff out their throats wide. For real iguanas, as for marine ones, harems are characteristic, with both several female and several male individuals. There are also special caresses when males sniff their chosen ones and bite their necks.
The gestation period for female true iguanas is about two months, and when it comes to laying, the females go upstream of the reservoirs near which they live and look for dry sandbanks or hills. The clutch settles in a deep hole, which the female digs herself and where she lays many eggs over the course of three days. There can be from 20 to 70 pieces - in a white leathery shell, soft, but quite durable. And real iguanas are also characterized by common incubators, when several females lay eggs in one hole, and then bury it and leave it, never returning to this place. In true iguanas, care for offspring is not expressed in any way. The eggs remain in the ground for about 3-4 months. In order for small iguanas to be born, they need to break through the shell using a fleshy “horn” on their forehead, and only then do they emerge to the surface.
In color, the cubs of real iguanas are similar to adult individuals, however, their comb is much less developed. Nature has arranged it in such a way that young real iguanas do not require parental care to survive. Newborn lizards often have a yolk sac with them to store nutrients for the first time. And the young prefer to grow up together, since in this case real iguanas have a better chance of surviving, and young males even protect the females from predators with their own body - an amazing and unique feature characteristic only of real iguanas. But not all masonry manages to “realize” its purpose. Many of them are destroyed by the local population, who consider iguana eggs a special delicacy.

You can buy a lizard from 3000 rubles

Common iguana, or green iguana (lat. Iguana iguana)- a large herbivorous lizard of the iguana family.

Habitat: Central and South America. The original natural range covers the tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere from southern Mexico (the states of Sinaloa and Veracruz) south to central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, east to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea - mainly Grenada, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia , Guadeloupe, St. Vincent, Utila and Aruba.

In the second half of the 20th century, lizards were introduced to the island of Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, the US and British Virgin Islands, the continental states of Florida and Texas, as well as Hawaii.

Inhabits a variety of biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly tropical rainforests, but also semi-humid forests, mangroves and dry, open areas of sea coasts. It spends most of its life on trees, usually growing along the banks of slow-flowing rivers. The lizard spends almost all its time on trees, closer to the crown, where there is the most sun. Only in cool weather do real iguanas descend to the ground. Sometimes the lizard uses the nearest body of water to swim, and it does it surprisingly deftly.

Real iguanas are excellent tree climbers and are not afraid of great heights, falling from which they almost always survive, and even in flight they try to cling to branches or leaves with their claws.

The body of the common iguana is thin, the tail is very long and laterally compressed, the back and tail have a longitudinal ridge, and on the throat there is a large, laterally compressed pouch (plays a significant role in thermoregulation, as well as in the mating behavior of males). The body is covered with scales arranged in transverse rows.

The head is tetrahedral, covered with scutes. The legs are short and equipped with sharp claws, with the help of which the lizard easily moves among woody vegetation.

The toes are long, without webs, 5 on the front and hind legs. The massive spiny crest gives the iguana additional protection from enemies. With the help of a flexible tail, the animal not only swims well, but is also capable of delivering hard blows, like a whip. Like many other lizard species, the animal can leave its tail in the teeth or claws of a predator, and eventually grow a new one.

Green skin color cannot be called characteristic of all representatives of the species; it can also change depending on age, area and living conditions. In the south of their range, such as in Peru, iguanas look bluish with black spots. On the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba and Grenada, their color varies from green to lavender, black and even pink. In western Costa Rica, common iguanas appear red, and in more northern regions (such as Mexico), orange. In El Salvador, juveniles often appear bright blue, but their color changes significantly as the lizards get older.

Young iguanas are most often bright green, this coloring is camouflage, so the iguana is not easy to see in a tree. And the dark stripes along the body allow the lizards to become invisible when they hide in various vegetation. Sometimes iguanas change skin color, for example, from stress, changes in temperature or lighting, but only in some areas of the body.

In bright light, the green iguana has excellent vision, with which it recognizes objects and movements at a great distance. But with the onset of darkness, the lizard’s vision noticeably deteriorates. The abundance of cone and double cone visual cells significantly improves image clarity, and also allows you to perceive more than just colors visible to humans spectrum, but also ultraviolet rays.

If an iguana is abruptly moved from a light room to a semi-dark one, it will behave restlessly and try to break free and run away.

The teeth of a real iguana, due to their sharpness, could become a dangerous weapon, however, it rarely uses them, using them only to chew plant food. They are shaped like a leaf and seem to be hidden behind the jaw bones.

Like most other lizards, the iguana also has a “third eye,” called the parietal eye, located on the top of the head in the space between the parietal (parietal) bones of the skull. This rudimentary photosensitive organ, covered with whitish scales, was inherited by the animal from its distant ancestors - at present it is not able to clearly identify an object, although it has an underdeveloped lens and retina. However, this "eye" is sensitive to changes in light intensity and detects movement. The organ helps to react in time when attacked by a predator from above. The animal’s body is not able to accumulate liquid concentrated urine, and excess potassium and sodium salts are removed by sneezing through a special organ - salt glands located on the head. Therefore, lizards periodically sneeze, leaving white marks on the walls of the terrarium

The hearing of iguanas is very subtle and is capable of picking up the lightest sounds, but its range only partially coincides with that of humans: while people best perceive sounds with a height of 2 to 5 KHz, then lizards perceive sounds with a height of 0.5 to 3 KHz.

Being a cold-blooded animal, the iguana is not able to independently maintain its own body temperature, and uses external sources for this. The ideal body temperature of lizards is about 30 °C; if it significantly increases or decreases, hearing deteriorates.

Gender differences: The sex of a green iguana can be determined by examining the underside of its hind legs. Males have well-developed odor-secreting pores in this area, which are often covered with a waxy substance. In addition, males have visibly longer and thicker spiny scales along their tails than females. As a rule, males are larger, more massive and brighter.

The length of an adult iguana usually does not exceed 1.5 m and weighs up to 7 kg, although in the forests of South America some individuals can reach a length of 2 m and weigh 8 kg. On semi-arid islands, lizards are typically 30% smaller in size than animals found on the mainland.

Iguanas are active only during daylight hours.

In the wild, iguanas live on average about 8 years. In captivity, with proper care, a green iguana can live for more than 20 years.

At home, iguanas are kept in fairly spacious terrariums, usually with side openings or mesh for air circulation. It should be taken into account that the young lizard is growing, and as it grows it will need more and more free space.

In wild nature optimal temperature for iguanas varies from 26 to 35 °C - for this reason, if necessary, terrariums are equipped with heaters. In addition, animals need a source of ultraviolet radiation, with the help of which their bodies produce vitamin D, a key component for the absorption of calcium. A deficiency of this element leads to metabolic bone disease and, as a consequence, the death of the animal. The terrarium is also equipped with a thick branch along which the lizard can climb up, and a small pool with warm water.

Feeding: Unlike most other species of the family, green iguanas are exclusively herbivores, eating leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of about 100 species of tropical plants. Among the lizard's favorite delicacies are Jamaican plum (Spondias mombin), incense tree (Bursera simaruba), Tecoma stans, pointed annona (Annona acuminata), Amphilophium paniculatum vine, Merremia umbellata, etc. Young lizards often eat the excrement of adult animals to meet their needs for the microflora necessary for digesting low-calorie vegetarian food. Animals are not able to chew food; they only cut off fairly large pieces with their small teeth and immediately swallow them whole. Occasionally, iguanas drink water, plunging part of their head into the pond and swallowing it, or lick drops from greenery.

Sometimes, in reference literature, there are reports that iguanas in the wild eat insects, bird eggs and carrion. However, no published academic research confirms that animals digest animal proteins. Moreover, all publications say that all lizard components necessary for development are obtained from food of plant origin only, and a protein diet is harmful to their health. Insects and other small invertebrates can indeed be found in the stomachs of lizards, but experts believe that they are swallowed only by accident along with plant food: for example, an iguana can swallow an insect sitting on a flower bed along with the flower. In captivity, green iguanas are sometimes fed rodent meat, but in very small quantities, as this has a detrimental effect on their health.

In a terrarium, one of the key conditions for successful maintenance is a proper and varied diet. The iguana willingly eats insects, mice and other meat products offered to it, but an excess of protein foods of animal origin leads to serious kidney dysfunction and often premature death. Most experts strongly recommend feeding iguanas with food of exclusively plant origin, justifying this by the characteristics of their body and laboratory research. It is necessary to give up to 90% of the diet to greens and vegetables: collard greens, turnip leaves, mustard, dandelion leaves and flowers, escarole lettuce, green beans, pumpkin with orange and yellow flesh, green beans, parsnips, asparagus, okra fruits, alfalfa, sweets peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. Spinach, rhubarb, beets and celery are not recommended for iguanas in large quantities. Head lettuce contains a large amount of water, but does not provide the animal with enough nutrients.

Reproduction: In the wild, most iguanas begin breeding starting at 3-4 years of age. The beginning of the breeding season most often occurs in January or February, but can vary depending on the habitat: with a seasonal cycle of humidity fluctuations, mating games occur in the first half of the dry period, egg laying in the second (at this time the soil temperature is quite high, and there is less risk death of the clutch from water-related problems), and hatching at the beginning of the rainy season, when the young shoots provide an abundance of food for the offspring.

During the mating season, which lasts about two weeks, males choose a future mating site, mark the territory using secretions from pores in the lower parts of the limbs, and become aggressive towards nearby rivals. In the wild, direct clashes between them are quite rare; in the event of a threat, the weaker lizard in the event of a conflict prefers to leave someone else's territory rather than engage in a fight. If the ability to escape is limited (when kept in captivity), then animals can bite each other. The demonstrative behavior of the male is frequent shaking of the head, inflating the throat sac and changing the color of the body to a brighter, more saturated one. Often one male simultaneously courts several females, and a female cohabitates with several males. During courtship, males sniff and lightly nip females on the neck.

Pregnancy lasts about 65 days, at the end of which the females leave their traditional habitats along the banks of rivers, and along the beds of streams flowing into them, they go upstream to dry sandbanks and dunes. A hole with a depth of 45 cm to 1 m is dug in the sand, where the female lays a large number, from 20 to 71, eggs over three or more days. The eggs are white, 35-40 mm long, about 15.4 mm in diameter, with a leathery and soft but durable shell. If there is a shortage of suitable places, several lizards can use one pit at the same time. Having laid eggs, the lizard carefully buries the hole and leaves the place, no longer caring about the offspring.

Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days at an ambient temperature of 30-32 °C. The cubs are usually born in May, breaking through the shell with the help of a special fleshy growth on the forehead - a caruncle, and climbing to the surface of the earth. They are almost identical in color and shape to adult individuals, but have only a weakly defined crest. Newborn true iguanas reach only 15-25 cm in length and weigh no more than 12 g. Young lizards are completely independent, although when they are born they may have a small yolk sac containing a nutritional mixture for the first one to two weeks. The brood stays together for the first year of life. In a group, males use their bodies to protect females from predators. This feature is present only in this species among all other reptiles.

Sexual maturity occurs in true iguanas at the age of 3 or 4 years.

Synonyms: Real iguana

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animals
Type: Chordata
Class: Reptiles
Order: Scaly
Suborder: Lizards
Family: Iguanaidae
Genus: True iguanas
Species: Common iguana, Iguana iguana

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