Iguane is a native genus of ornithous lizards which are indigenous to tropical regions of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Iguana can grow up to four feet in length and are considered as one of the smallest family of reptiles. In addition, they are among one of the easiest to care for. They are also considered as the best choice among reptile pets. This is because these lizards are beautiful to look at but are very strong and flexible as well.
The word” iguana” comes from the Spanish word “Igua” which means “rock”. It is generally believed that iguanas got their name from the likeness of some kind of a rock in the habitats of the tribe. This was then used by the Spanish as a way to distinguish between different species of reptiles. The most common iguana species in captivity today is the Formica iguana, also known as the Mexican rock lizard or Formica pteropus.
Iguanas are part of the class of reptiles called the Caudipteryx clavicles. Other common Caudipteryx species are the chalcid, leopard, tuatara, and the rainbow. The small scales of the iguana differ from other Caudipteryx species; however, they can still be distinguished from the chalice. Some of the most distinguishing features of iguanas are their spines which are club shaped, short and tapering. Most of them also have distinctive head designs unlike other Caudipteryx species.
An interesting characteristic of iguanas is that they possess a green color with some reddish lines on them. These marks, which are called color swirls, occur normally on limbs, but are also found on the underside of their tail. They also have small black spots on their throats, chest and eyes. Their legs appear to be long and club shaped and they have two claws on each leg. Their eyes are large and rounded like those of the common iguana.
In nature, the iguana has varied diet; depending on the season, it will eat fruits, leaves, seeds, insects and even grass. It will also consume meat and other foods such as roots, bark and cellulose materials. It will drink blood from prey and sucking small bugs. In captivity, it prefers a high quality diet consisting mainly of green vegetables, cereals, fruits, meats, tubers and algae. Aquatic plants such as watermelons, lily pads, starfish, mosquito larva, dulse and other algae-related foods will also provide nutrition for the iguana. Water is an essential element for iguana; they cannot exist without it and will drown if deprived of it.
The iguana has no natural enemies, although rodents and snakes tend to attack them. They prefer to be in the company of other iguanas since they have a tendency to build nests in areas where there are other iguanas or in areas where there are snakes. They also bite at other iguanas when threatened so be aware of this. Iguane are not picky eaters and will often go after live prey like fish and slugs.
Iguane are not uncommon in Florida; approximately fifteen to twenty to one hundred live plants are reported to be found in the Everglades. Florida is truly a tropical and subtropical state in the southeastern United States. It enjoys average temperatures of seventy-five to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and spring. A brief look at the natural history of Florida will show how it came to be established on its present-day location.
Early specie of the green iguana specie was a type specimen of the South American large toothed iguana, which went through a transformation into the green iguana we know today. The name given to this specie was the enema et al’s. In fact, the name enema was given to the ornithologist who was the first to describe the peculiarities of the South American large toothed iguana. The name enema’s was then adopted by another ornithologist, Dr. Alexander Parkes, who did a thorough study and proved that the specie he had described as the enema was a separate species.
