Green iguana: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
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#REDIRECT [[Green iguana]] |
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| name = Green iguana<ref name="ITIS">{{ITIS |id=173930 |taxon=''Iguana iguana'' (Linnaeus, 1758) |accessdate=4 September 2008}}</ref> |
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{{R from move}} |
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| image = Green iguana on branch.jpg|thumb|Green iguana on branch |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Reptile|Reptill]]ia |
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| ordo = [[Squamata]] |
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| familia = [[Iguanidae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Iguana]]'' |
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| species = '''''I. iguana''''' |
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| binomial = ''Iguana iguana'' |
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| binomial_authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]]), [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]] |
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| synonyms = * ''Iguana iguana rhinolopha'' <small>Wiegman, 1834</small> |
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* ''Lacerta Igvana'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> |
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* ''Hypsilophus tuberculatus'' <small>Wagler 1830</small> |
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* ''Iguana hernandessi'' <small>Jan 1857</small> |
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* ''Iguana iguana rhinolopha'' <small>Wiegman, 1834</small> |
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* ''Hypsilophus rhinolophus'' <small>Fitzinger, 1843</small> |
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* ''Iguana rhinolopha'' <small>Dumeril & Bibron, 1837</small> |
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* ''Iguana rhinolophus'' <small>Günther, 1885</small> |
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| range_map = Iguana iguana distribution map.png |
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}} |
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The '''green iguana''' or '''common iguana''' (''Iguana iguana'') is a large, [[arboreal]], mostly [[herbivory|herbivorous]] [[species]] of [[lizard]] of the [[genus]] ''[[Iguana]]'' native to [[Central America|Central]], [[South America]], and the Caribbean. Usually, this animal is simply called the '''iguana'''. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area, from southern [[Brazil]] and [[Paraguay]] as far north as [[Mexico]] and the [[Caribbean Islands]]. They are very common throughout [[Puerto Rico]], where they are collaquially known as "Gallina de palo" and considered as an [[invasive species]] introduced from South America; in the [[United States]] [[feral]] populations exist in [[South Florida metropolitan area|South Florida]] (including the [[Florida Keys]]), [[Hawaii]], and the [[Rio Grande Valley]] of [[Texas]]. |
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A [[herbivory|herbivore]], it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and [[osmoregulation]] as a result of its diet. It grows to {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than {{convert|2|m|ft}} with bodyweights upward of {{convert|20|lb|kg}}. |
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Commonly found in captivity as a [[pet]] due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly. Space requirements and the need for special lighting and heat can prove challenging to an amateur hobbyist. |
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==Taxonomy and etymology== |
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The species was first officially described by Swedish [[botany|botanist]] [[Carl Linnaeus]] in 1758.<ref name="Hollingsworth"/> In the two centuries since then, numerous [[subspecies]] have been identified, but later classified as merely regional variants of the same species.<ref name="Hollingsworth">{{citation | last = Hollingsworth | first = Bradford D. | title = The Evolution of Iguanas an Overview and a Checklist of Species | work = Iguanas: Biology and Conservation | publisher = [[University of California Press]] | pages = 40–41 | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-520-23854-1 }}</ref> |
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Using nuclear and [[mitochondrion|mitochondrial]] DNA-sequence data to explore the [[phylogenetics|phylogenic]] history of the green iguana, scientists from [[Utah Valley University|Utah Valley State College]] studied animals collected from 17 different countries.<ref name="GenUp">{{Citation | last = Stephen | first = Catherine | title = Genetic Studies Update | journal = Iguana Journal of the International Iguana Society | conference = Iguana Specialist Group Meeting 2005 | volume = 13 | page = 127 | year = 2006 | issue = 2 }}</ref> The [[topology]] of phylogeny indicated that the species originated in South America and eventually radiated through Central America and the Caribbean.<ref name="GenUp"/> The study revealed no unique [[mitochondrial DNA]] haplotypes for subspecific status but did indicate the deep lineage divergence between Central and South American populations.<ref name="GenUp"/> |
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The word ''iguana'' is derived from a Spanish form of the [[Taíno people|Taíno]] name for the species: ''iwana''.<ref name="Coles">{{citation | last = Coles | first = William | title = Green Iguana | work = U.S.V.I. Animal Fact Sheet #08 | publisher = Department of Planning and Natural Resources US Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife | url = http://www.vifishandwildlife.com/Education/FactSheet/PDF_Docs/08GreenIguana.pdf |format=PDF| year = 2002 }} |
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</ref><ref name="devosjoli"/> In some Spanish speaking countries, males of the species are referred to as ''gorrobo'' or ''ministro'' and juveniles are called ''iguanita'' or ''gorrobito''.<ref name="Swanson">{{Citation | last = Swanson | first = Paul L | title = The Iguana: Iguana iguana iguana | journal = Herpetolgica | volume = 6 | pages = 187–193 | year = 1950 }}</ref> |
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==Distribution and habitat== |
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[[File:Iguana from Vereda del Lago 2.jpg|thumb|left|A green iguana in [[Maracaibo]]]] |
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The native range of the green iguana extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and [[Bolivia]] and the [[Caribbean]]; specifically [[Grenada]], [[Curaçao]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Saint Lucia|St. Lucia]], [[Saint Vincent (island)|St. Vincent]], and [[Útila]].<ref name="Lazell"/><ref name="Krysko"/> They have been introduced to [[Grand Cayman]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Texas]], [[Florida]], [[Hawaii]], and the [[United States Virgin Islands]];<ref name="Krysko"/><ref name="wildblue">{{citation | last = Mani | first = Bina | title = Wild Blue Iguanas plummeting towards extinction | date= 2002-07-17 | url = http://www.blueiguana.ky/wild-blue-iguanas-plummeting-towards-extinction-2| accessdate = 2007-10-28 <sup>[http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=author%3AMani+intitle%3AWild+Blue+Iguanas+plummeting+towards+extinction&as_publication=&as_ylo=&as_yhi=&btnG=Search Scholar search]</sup> }}</ref><ref name="seidel"> |
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{{citation | last = Seidel | first = M | last2 = Franz | first2 = R | title = Amphibians and reptiles (exclusive of marine turtles) of the Cayman Islands | work = The Cayman Islands: natural history and biogeography | publisher = Kluwer Academic Publishers | location = The Netherlands | pages = 407–434 | year= 1994 | isbn = 978-0-7923-2462-1 }}</ref> and colonised the island of [[Anguilla]] in 1995 after being washed ashore following a hurricane. Though the species is not native to [[Martinique]], a small wild colony of released or escaped green iguanas endures at historic [[Fort Saint Louis (Martinique)|Fort Saint Louis]].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Breuil |first1=Michel |year=2000 |title=Taxon reports: ''i. delicatissima and i. iguana'' |format=PDF |journal=West Indian Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter |publisher=[[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]] |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=4–5 |url=http://www.iucn-isg.org/files/9ee5b5ca-cb43-4ed5-8ed9-7eb9e891b454.pdf |accessdate=14 February 2012 }}</ref> |
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Green iguanas are [[diurnality|diurnal]], [[arboreal]], and are often found near water.<ref name="Cogger">{{citation | last = Cogger | first = Harold | authorlink = Harold Cogger | last2 = Zweifel | first2 = Richard | title = Reptiles & Amphibians | publisher = Weldon Owen | location = [[Sydney]], [[Australia]] | page = 140 | year = 1992 | isbn = 0-8317-2786-1 }}</ref><ref name="Samuelson"/> Agile climbers, ''Iguana iguana'' can fall up to {{convert|50|ft|m}} and land unhurt (iguanas use their hind leg claws to clasp leaves and branches to break a fall).<ref name="Samuelson"/><ref name="Audobon">{{citation | last = Bebler | first = John L. | last2 = King | first2 = F. Wayne | title = The Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf |
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| location = New York | pages = 511–512 | year = 1979 | isbn = 0-394-50824-6 }} |
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</ref><ref name="Rosenfeld"> |
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{{citation | last = Rosenfeld | first = Arthur | title = Exotic Pets | publisher = [[Simon & Schuster]] | location = New York | page = 105 | year = 1989 | isbn = 0-671-47654-8}}</ref> During cold, wet weather, green iguanas prefer to stay on the ground for greater warmth.<ref name="Swanson"/> When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes.<ref name="Swanson"/> |
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Because of the green iguana's popularity in the pet trade and as a food source in [[Latin America]], they are listed on the [[CITES]] Appendix II, which means that while they are not an [[endangered species]], "their trade must be controlled so as to not harm the species in the future". The iguanas are often referred to as "disposable pets" due to owners not taking proper care of them and later disposing of them.<ref name="cites">{{citation | work = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora | title = Appendices I,II, and III | date = 2007-09-13 | url = http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml | accessdate = 2007-10-28 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071016044552/http://www.cites.org/eng/app/appendices.shtml | archivedate = 2007-10-16 }}</ref> |
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== Anatomy and morphology == |
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[[File:Green Iguana Palo Verde.JPG|left|thumb|In [[Palo Verde National Park]], Costa Rica]] |
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Despite their name, green iguanas can come in different colors. In southern countries of their range, such as [[Peru]], green iguanas appear bluish in color with bold blue markings.<ref name="Samuelson"/> On islands such as [[Bonaire]], [[Curaçao]], [[Aruba]], and [[Grenada]], a green Iguana's color may range from green to lavender, black, and even pink.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Samuelson"/> green iguanas from the western region of Costa Rica are red and animals of the northern ranges, such as Mexico, appear orange.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Samuelson"/> Juvenile green iguanas from [[El Salvador]] are often bright blue as babies, however they lose this color as they get older.<ref name="devosjoli"/> |
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Green iguanas possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators.<ref name="Samuelson"/> Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one.<ref name="SS"/> In addition, iguanas have a well developed [[dewlap]] which helps regulate their body temperature.<ref name="Audobon"/> This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Samuelson"/><ref name="Conant"> |
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{{Citation | last = Conant | first = Roger | last2 = Collins | first2 = Joseph | title = A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians Eastern/Central North America | publisher = Houghton Mifflin Company | year = 1991 | pages = 94–95 | location = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] | isbn = 0-395-58389-6 }}</ref> |
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[[Image:AA Iguana Fot Ars Summum.JPG|upright|thumb|right|A male green iguana with spines and [[dewlap]]]] |
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Green iguanas have excellent vision, enabling them to detect shapes and motions at long distances.<ref name="Brames">{{Citation | last = Brames | first = Henry | title = Aspects of Light and Reptile Immunity | journal = Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles | publisher = International Reptile Conservation Foundation | volume = 14 | issue = 1 | year = 2007 | pages = 19–23 |url=http://www.ircf.org/downloads/wwdigitalmembers/Iguana_14-1web.pdf}}</ref> As green iguanas have only a few [[rod cell]]s, they have poor vision in low-light conditions. At the same time, they have cells called “[[double cone|double cone cells]]” that give them sharp color vision and enable them to see [[ultraviolet]] wavelengths.<ref name="Brames"/> This ability is highly useful when basking so the animal can ensure that it absorbs enough sunlight in the forms of UVA and UVB to produce [[vitamin D]].<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Rosenfeld"/> |
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Green iguanas have a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads called the [[parietal eye]] (also called third eye, [[pineal eye]] or [[pineal gland]]), in contrast to most other lizards which have lost this primitive feature.<ref name="Brames"/> This "eye" has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images,<ref name="Brames"/> but is sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement.<ref name="Brames"/> This helps the iguana detect predators stalking it from above.<ref name="Brames"/> |
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Green iguanas have very sharp teeth that are capable of shredding leaves and even human skin.<ref name="devosjoli"/> These teeth are shaped like a leaf, broad and flat, with serrations on the edge. The similarity of these teeth to those of one of the first dinosaurs discovered led to the dinosaur being named ''[[Iguanodon]]'', meaning "iguana-tooth", and the incorrect assumption that it had resembled a gigantic iguana.<ref name=DBN04>{{Citation |last= Norman|first=David B. |editor= Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. (eds.)|title=The Dinosauria |edition=2nd |year= 2004|publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley |isbn=0-520-24209-2 |pages=413–437 |chapter=Basal Iguanodontia}}</ref> The teeth are situated on the inner sides of the jawbones which is why they are hard to see in smaller specimens.<ref name="Conant"/> |
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[[File:Iguana iguana -Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica -in tree-8a.jpg|left|thumb|In [[Palo Verde National Park]], Costa Rica]] |
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Primarily [[herbivory|herbivorous]], green iguanas are presented with a special problem for [[osmoregulation]]; plant matter contains more [[potassium]] and as it has less nutritional content per gram, more must be eaten to meet metabolic needs.<ref name="Hazard">{{citation | last = Hazard | first = Lisa C. | title = Sodium and Potassium Secretion by Iguana Salt Glands | work = Iguanas: Biology and Conservation | publisher = University of California Press | pages = 84–85 | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-520-23854-1 }}</ref> As green iguanas are not capable of creating liquid urine more concentrated than their bodily fluids, like birds they excrete nitrogenous wastes as urate salts through a [[salt gland]].<ref name="Hazard"/> As a result, green iguanas have developed a lateral [[nose|nasal]] gland to supplement renal salt secretion by expelling excess potassium and sodium chloride.<ref name="Hazard"/> |
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Green iguanas from [[Guatemala]] and southern Mexico predominantly have small horns on their snouts between their eyes and their nostrils, whereas others do not.<ref name="Samuelson"/> Naturalists once classified these iguanas as a separate [[subspecies]] (''Iguana iguana rhinolopha''); however, this classification has been found to be invalid based on mitochondrial DNA and iguanas with similar nose projections appear randomly in other populations and interbreed freely with those that do not share this trait.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Samuelson">{{Citation | last = Samuelson | first = Phillip | title = The Lizard King | journal = Reptiles Magazine | volume = 3 | issue = 2 | date= 1995-06-01 | pages = 64–84 }}</ref> |
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The green iguana is a large lizard and is probably the largest species in the [[iguana]] family, though a few in the ''[[Cyclura]]'' genus may match or exceed it in weight.<ref>[http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles/lizards_iguanid/GreenIguana.php Green Iguana, Iguana iguana, Giant Green Iguana Facts and Care]. Animal-world.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.</ref> Adults typically grow to {{convert|1.2|to|1.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length from head to tail.<ref name="devosjoli"/> As in all iguanas, the tail comprises much of this length, and the snout-to-vent length of most green iguanas is {{convert|30|to|42|cm|in|abbr=on}}. An average adult male will weigh around {{convert|4|kg|lb|abbr=on}} while the smaller adult female will typically weigh {{convert|1.2|to|3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>Rivas, J.A. (2008) Pers. comm.</ref> A few large males can reach or exceed {{convert|6|to|8|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in weight and {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on}} long.<ref>[http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/choose-a-species/reptiles/lizards-and-tuatara/iguana-iguana Green Iguana – Iguana iguana : WAZA : World Association of Zoos and Aquariums]. WAZA. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.</ref> Some specimens have even reportedly been measured at a body weight of greater than {{convert|20|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="devosjoli"/> |
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==Reproductive biology== |
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[[Image:Iguana3.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Juvenile green iguana]] |
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Male green iguanas have highly developed [[femoral pore]]s on the underside of their thighs which secrete a scent (females have femoral pores, but they are smaller in comparison to those of the males).<ref name="devosjoli">{{Citation | last = De Vosjoli | first = Phillipe | coauthors = Susan Donoghue, Roger Klingenberg, David Blair | title = The Green Iguana Manual | publisher = Advanced Vivarium Systems | year = 2003 | isbn = 978-1-882770-67-0 }}</ref> In addition, the [[Dorsal (location)|dorsal]] spines that run along a green iguana's back are noticeably longer and thicker in males than they are in females, making the animals somewhat [[sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]].<ref name="devosjoli"/> |
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Green iguanas are [[oviparity|oviparous]] with females laying clutches of 20 to 71 eggs once per year during a synchronized nesting period.<ref name="SS">{{Citation |last= Capula|first= Massimo|coauthors =Behler|title= Simon & Schuster's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the World |year= 1989|publisher= Simon & Schuster |location= New York|isbn= 0-671-69098-1}}</ref><ref name="Burghart">{{Citation | last = Burghart | first = Gordon | title = Iguana Research: Looking Back and Looking Ahead | work = Iguanas: Biology and Conservation | publisher = University of California Press | pages = 5–10 | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-520-23854-1 }}</ref> The female green iguana gives no parental protection after egg laying, apart from defending the nesting burrow during excavation.<ref name="Burghart"/> In [[Panama]], the green iguana has been observed sharing nest sites with [[American crocodile]]s and in [[Honduras]] with [[spectacled caiman]]s.<ref name="Krysko"/> |
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The hatchlings emerge from the nest after 10–15 weeks of incubation.<ref name="SS"/><ref name="Burghart"/> Once hatched, the young iguanas look similar to the adults in color and shape, resembling adult females more so than males and lacking dorsal spines.<ref name="Burghart"/> |
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Juveniles stay in familial groups for the first year of their lives.<ref name="Burghart"/> Male green iguanas in these groups often use their own bodies to shield and protect females from predators and it appears to be the only species of reptile which does this.<ref name="Rivas"> |
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{{citation | last = Rivas | first = Jesus | last2 = Levin | first2 = Luis E | title = Sexually Dimorphic Antipredator Behavior in Juvenile Green Iguanas | work = Iguanas: Biology and Conservation | publisher = University of California Press | page = 121 | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-0-520-23854-1 }}</ref> |
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==Behavior== |
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[[File:Cuban Iguana 010.jpg|thumb|left|Reddish colored green iguana]] |
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When frightened by a [[predation|predator]], green iguanas will attempt to flee, and if near a [[body of water]], they dive into it and swim away.<ref name="Swanson"/> If cornered by a threat, the green iguana will extend and display the [[dewlap]] under its neck, stiffen and puff up its body, hiss, and bob its head at the aggressor.<ref name="Samuelson"/> If threat persists the iguana can lash with its tail, bite and use its claws in defense.<ref name="Swanson"/> The wounded are more inclined to fight than uninjured prey.<ref name="Swanson"/> |
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Green iguanas use "head bobs" and dewlaps in a variety of ways in social interactions, such as greeting another iguana or to court a possible mate.<ref name="devosjoli"/> The frequency and number of head bobs have particular meanings to other iguanas.<ref name="Samuelson"/> |
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Green iguanas are hunted by predatory birds and their fear of these is exploited as a ploy to catch them in the wild.<ref name="Swanson"/> The sound of a hawk's whistle or scream makes the iguana freeze and it becomes easier to capture.<ref name="Swanson"/> |
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==Diet== |
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[[File:Iguana.ogg|thumb|right|Iguana eating ''[[Bougainvillea]]'' leaves]] |
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Green Iguanas are primarily [[herbivory|herbivore]]s, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of upwards of 100 different species of plant.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Burghart"/> In Panama one of the green iguana's favorite foods is [[Spondias mombin|wild plum]], ''Spondias mombin''.<ref name="Swanson"/> |
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Although they will consume a wide variety of foods if offered, green iguanas are naturally [[herbivory|herbivorous]] and require a precise ratio of minerals (2 to 1 [[calcium]] to [[phosphorus]]) in their diet.<ref name="Rosenfeld"/><ref name="anapsid-mkdiet">{{cite web | last = Kaplan | first = Melissa | date = 2007-04-19 | url = http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/igdiet.html | title = 'MK Diet' – The Short Version | work = Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection | publisher = [http://www.anapsid.org anapsid.org] | accessdate = 2007-06-27}}</ref> It is important for captive iguanas to have a variety of leafy greens along with fruits and vegetables such as turnip greens, collards, butternut squash, acorn squash, mango,and parsnip.<ref>{{cite web|title=Food Information Chart|url=http://greenigsociety.org/foodchart.htm|publisher=Green Iguana Society}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Food Chart|url=http://tesa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=diet&action=display&thread=3578|publisher=Iguana Zone}}</ref> Juvenile iguanas often eat [[feces]] from adults in order to acquire the essential [[gut flora|microflora]] to digest their low-quality and hard to process vegetarian only diet.<ref name="Swanson"/><ref name="Burghart"/> |
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There is some debate as to whether captive green Iguanas should be fed animal protein.<ref name="devosjoli"/> There is evidence of wild iguanas eating [[grasshopper]]s and [[tree snail]]s, usually as a byproduct of eating plant material.<ref>{{cite web | last = Townsend| first = Josiah H. |author2=John Slapcinsky |author3=Kenneth L. Krysko |author4=Ellen M. Donlan |author5=Elizabeth A. Golden | title =Predation of a Tree Snail Drymaeus multilineatus (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) by Iguana iguana(Reptilia: Iguanidae) on Key Biscayne, Florida | work = SouthEastern Naturalist| year =2005 | url = http://www.naherpetology.org/pdf_files/393.pdf | volume = 4| issue =2| pages =361–364|format = PDF| accessdate = 2009-08-08}}</ref><ref name="FLA">{{Citation| last = Meshaka |
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| first = Walter | last2 = Bartlett | first2 = Richard | last3 = Smith | first3 = Henry | date = 2007-04-19 | work = Iguana: Journal of the International Iguana Society | publisher = State Museum of Pennsylvania, Zoology and Botany| postscript = .}}</ref> Wild adult green iguanas have been observed eating bird's eggs.<ref name="Lazell">{{citation | last = Lazell | first = J.D. | title = The lizard genus ''Iguana'' in the Lesser Antilles |url=http://archive.org/details/cbarchive_105851_thelizardgenusiguanainthelesse1863| work = Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology | location = New York | volume = 145 | pages = 1–28 | year = 1973 }} |
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</ref> Zoologists, such as Adam Britton, believe that such a diet containing protein is unhealthy for the animal's digestive system resulting in severe long-term health damage including kidney failure and leading to premature death.<ref name="Britton">{{cite web | last = Britton | first = Adam | date = 2007-04-19 | url = http://www.anapsid.org/adambritton.html | title = Animal Protein and Claw Trimming |
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| work = Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection | publisher = [http://www.anapsid.org anapsid.org] | accessdate = 2007-06-27}}</ref> On the other side of the argument is that green iguanas at the [[Miami Seaquarium]] in [[Key Biscayne]], Florida, have been observed eating dead fish and individuals kept in captivity have been known to eat mice without any ill effects.<ref name="devosjoli"/> De Vosjoli writes that captive animals have been known to survive and thrive on eating nothing but whole rodent block, or monkey chow, and one instance of [[romaine lettuce]] with vitamin and calcium supplements.<ref name="devosjoli"/> However, it is only recommended that captive iguanas are not fed lettuce or meat, and instead receive the vitamins and minerals they need via a purely herbivore diet. |
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==Captivity== |
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{{Main|Green Iguana in captivity}} |
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[[File:GreenIguana.jpg|thumb|left|A green iguana in a [[vivarium|terrarium]]]] |
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The American pet trade has put a great demand on the green iguana; 800,000 iguanas were imported into the U.S. in 1995 alone, primarily originating from captive farming operations based in their native countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and Panama).<ref name="nationalzoo"> |
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{{citation | title = Green Iguana | work = Reptiles and Amphibians Fact Sheets | publisher = [[National Zoological Park (United States)|National Zoological Park]] | url = http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Greeniguana.cfm |
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| year = 2007 }} |
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</ref> However, these animals are demanding to care for properly over their lifetime, and many die within a few years of acquisition.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref>{{Citation|pmid=17469289|author=Loukopoulos P, Komnenou A, Papadopoulos E, Psychas V|title= Lethal Ozolaimus megatyphlon infection in a green iguana (''Iguana iguana rhinolopa'')|year=2007|volume=38|issue=1|pages=131–4|journal=Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians}}</ref> |
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Although, in captivity, green iguanas will eat meat if presented with it, excessive consumption of animal protein results in severe kidney problems and possible premature [[death]].<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Britton"/> Misinformed pet owners tend to feed iguanas [[lettuce|iceberg lettuce]], which provides iguanas with water but has no other nutritional value.<ref name="Rosenfeld"/> A captive Green Iguana's diet should consist of fresh leafy vegetables such as [[brassica juncea|mustard greens]], [[collard greens]], [[taraxacum|dandelion]], [[eruca sativa|arugula]], or [[kale]] and access to fresh water.<ref name="devosjoli"/> |
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Green iguanas will thrive only in temperatures of {{convert|79|F|C}} to {{convert|95|F|C}} and must have appropriate sources of [[Ultraviolet|UVB]] and [[Ultraviolet|UVA]] lighting, or else their bodies cannot produce [[vitamin D]] that promotes calcium absorption, which can result in a metabolic bone disease that can be fatal.<ref name="devosjoli"/><ref name="Rosenfeld"/> |
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In some locales ([[New York City]] and [[Hawaii]]), iguanas are considered [[exotic pet]]s, and are prohibited from ownership.<ref name="Blood"> |
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{{citation | last = Blood | first = Michael R | title = Exotic Pets' Days Numbered |
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| newspaper = [[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]] | date = 1999-06-30 }} |
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</ref><ref name="adopt">{{cite web | url = http://members2.boardhost.com/gisadoptions |
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| title = "Green Iguana Society Adoption Board" (discussion board) | publisher = [http://www.boardhost.com/ Boardhost.com] | accessdate = 2007-06-27}}</ref> Due to the potential impact of an introduced species on Hawaii's ecosystem, the state has strict regulations regarding the import and possession of green iguanas; violators can spend three years in jail and be fined up to $200,000.<ref name="Hawaii">{{Citation | title = Iguana & Illegal Lizard Turned In Under Amnesty | publisher = State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture | date = 2002-04-16 | url = http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/newsrelease/02-08.htm }}</ref> |
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==As an invasive species== |
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[[File:Baby Iguana in Curacao.jpg|thumb|right|Very young iguana, found indoors in [[Curacao]]]] |
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[[File:Iguana iguana Portoviejo 04.jpg|thumb|right|Wild green iguana in the Botanical Garden at [[Portoviejo]], [[Ecuador]]]] |
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[[Image:St Thomas Marriott Iguana 8.jpg|thumb|right|At [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands]]]] |
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===Caribbean=== |
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In the aftermath of two [[Caribbean]] [[tropical cyclone|hurricane]]s in 1995, a raft of uprooted trees with a group of fifteen green iguanas landed on the eastern side of [[Anguilla]] – an island where that species have never been recorded previously.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Lawrence|first=Eleanor|date=15 October 1998|title=Iguanas ride the waves|journal=Nature|url=http://www.nature.com/news/1998/981015/full/news981015-3.html}}</ref> [[Biologist]] Ellen Censky, of the [[Connecticut State Museum of Natural History]], believes that the new iguanas had accidentally become caught on the trees and rafted two hundred miles across the ocean from [[Guadeloupe]], where green iguanas are an indigenous species.<ref name="Censky">{{citation | last = Censky | first = Ellen | title = ''Rafting Iguanas and a Job in Storrs'' | work = Article | publisher = The New York Times | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E3D8153BF93BA35753C1A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | date = December 27, 1998 }}</ref> By examining the weather patterns and ocean currents, Censky has shown that the iguanas had spent three weeks at sea before arriving on the island.<ref name="Censky"/> This colony began breeding on the new island within two years of its arrival.<ref name="Censky"/> |
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In February 2012, the government of [[Puerto Rico]] proposed that the islands' iguanas, which were said to have a population of four million and considered to be a non-native nuisance, be eradicated and sold for [[Iguana meat|meat]].<ref name=WaPo01>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/puerto-rico-plans-to-kill-iguanas-export-meat-to-help-eradicate-species/2012/02/03/gIQAduuFnQ_story.html |title=Puerto Rico plans to kill iguanas, export meat to help eradicate species |agency=Associated Press|accessdate=February 7, 2012 |date=February 3, 2012}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref name=GreenAntilles01>{{cite web |url=http://www.greenantilles.com/2012/02/06/puerto-rico-cayman-islands-to-cull-populations-of-invasive-green-iguanas/ |title=Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands to cull populations of invasive green iguanas |publisher=Green Antilles |accessdate=February 7, 2012 |date=2012-02-06}}</ref> |
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===Fiji=== |
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The green iguana is present on some of the islands of [[Fiji]], where it is known as the American iguana. They pose a threat to the [[Brachylophus|native iguanas]] through the potential spread of disease and to humans by spreading [[salmonella]]. They were initially brought to [[Qamea]] in 2000 by an American who wanted them to eat the numerous insects on the island. They are now present on the islands of [[Laucala]], [[Matagi Island|Matagi]] and [[Taveuni]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.naturefiji.org/newsstory.php?id=93|title=American iguanas in Fiji|last=Thomas|first=Nunia|date=2010-04-27|publisher=NatureFiji-MareqetiViti|accessdate=2011-11-13}}</ref><ref> |
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{{Cite news| last = Field| first = Michael |title = 'Aliens' invade Fiji isles| |newspaper = Sunday Star-Times | accessdate = 2011-11-13| date = 2011-11-13| url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/latest-edition/5957070/Aliens-invade-Fiji-isles}}</ref> |
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===United States=== |
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The green iguana is established on [[Oahu]] and [[Maui]], Hawaii as a feral species (despite strict legislation banning the importation of any reptiles)<ref name="Perry">{{Citation | last = Perry | first = Brian | title = Leaping lizards! Girl sights iguana in Kahului | newspaper = The Maui News | date = 2006-04-12 | url = http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/18635.html}}</ref><ref name="HDOA">{{citation|title=Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture News Release – NR09-03|date=2009-02-05|url=http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/news/2009-news-releases/news}}</ref> and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.<ref name="Samuelson"/> As most reptiles carry [[salmonella]], this is a concern and a reason legislation has been sought to regulate the trade in green iguanas.<ref name="Krysko"/> |
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Due to a combination of events, the green iguana is considered an [[invasive species]] in [[South Florida metropolitan area|South Florida]] and is found along the gulf coast of [[Florida]] from [[Key West]] to [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]].<ref name="Krysko">{{citation | last = Krysko | first = Kenneth L | last2 = Enge | first2 = Kevin M | last3 = Donlan | first3 = Ellen M | last4 = Seitz | first4 = Jason C | title = Distribution, Natural History, and Impacts of the Introduced Green Iguana in Florida | journal = Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles | publisher = International Reptile Conservation Foundation | volume = 14 | issue = 3 | year = 2007 | pages = 142–151 }}</ref><ref name="Conant"/><ref name="SPT"/> The original small populations in the Florida Keys were animals that were stowaways on ships carrying fruit from South America.<ref name="zoogoer"/> Over the years, other iguanas were introduced into the wild mostly originating through the pet trade. Some were escapees and some were intentionally released by their owners; these iguanas survived and then thrived in their new habitat.<ref name="SPT"/> They commonly hide in the attics of houses and on beaches. They often destroy gardens and landscaping.<ref name="SPT">{{citation | last = Lush | first = Tamara | title = Florida's Iguana Infestation | newspaper = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | date = 2005-07-26 | url = http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/26/State/Florida_s_iguana_infe.shtml }}</ref> They seem to be fond of eating a native endangered plant, ''[[Cordia|Cordia globosa]]'' and feeding on [[nickernut]] (''[[Caesalpinia]]'') a primary food plant of the endangered [[Miami blue]] butterfly (''Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri''); additionally on [[Marco Island, Florida|Marco Island]], green iguanas have been observed using the burrows of the [[Burrowing owl|Florida burrowing owl]], a species of special concern, all of which can make them more of a serious threat to Florida's ecosystem than originally believed.<ref name="Krysko"/><ref name="zoogoer">{{Citation | last = Youth | first = Howard | title = Florida's Creeping Crawlers | journal = Zoogoer | volume = 20 | issue = 3 | year = 2005 | url = http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2005/3/reptilefeature.cfm }}</ref> |
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In January 2008, large numbers of iguanas established in Florida dropped from the trees in which they lived, due to uncommonly cold nights that put them in a state of torpor and caused them to lose their grip on the tree branches.<ref name="treedropping">{{Citation | title = Cold Snap Causes Frozen Iguana Shower | year = 2008 | url = http://www.wesh.com/weather/14973518/detail.html | publisher = [[WESH]] }}</ref> Though no specific numbers were provided by local wildlife officials, local media described the phenomenon as a "frozen iguana shower" in which dozens "littered" local bike paths. Upon the return of daytime warmth many (but not all) of the iguanas "woke up" and resumed their normal activities.<ref name="wakeup">{{Citation | work = Associated Press | title = Alien Iguanas Fall From Florida Trees During Cold Snap | year = 2008 | url = http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080107-AP-cold-iguana.html | publisher = [[National Geographic Society]] }} |
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</ref> This occurred again in January 2010 after a prolonged cold front once again hit southern Florida.<ref name="coldsnap">{{Cite web | work = Associated Press| title = Cold tightens grip, all the way to Florida iguanas | date = January 6, 2010 | url = http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/01/cold_grips_much_of_the_country.html| publisher =cleveland.com }}</ref> |
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==Cultural references== |
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[[File:Iguana market nicaragua.jpg|left|thumb| Although eating iguanas is forbidden in Nicaragua they are available in markets]] |
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The [[Moche (culture)|Moche]] people of ancient [[Peru]] worshipped animals and often depicted Green Iguanas in their art.<ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames & Hudson]], 1997.</ref> The Green iguana and its relative the Black iguana ''([[Ctenosaura similis]])'' have been used as a [[iguana meat|food source]] in Central and South America for the past 7000 years.<ref name="Coles"/> It is possible that some of the populations in the [[Caribbean]] were translocated there from the mainland by various tribes as a food source.<ref name="Coles"/> In Central and South America, Green Iguanas are still used as a source of meat and are often referred to as ''gallina de palo,'' "bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree,"<ref name="Swanson"/> because they are said to [[tastes like chicken|taste like chicken]].<ref name="taste-nytimes">{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5D7173DF931A1575BC0A96F948260|title=A Plan to Save Iguanas, and Rain Forests in the Bargain|year=2008|accessdate=2008-07-17 | work=The New York Times | first=Lindsey | last=Gruson | date=1989-08-22}}</ref> |
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{{-}} |
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==References==<!-- BiodiversConserv17:2037. --> |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Wikispecies|Iguana iguana}} |
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{{Commons category|Iguana iguana}} |
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* [http://www.greenigsociety.org/ Green Iguana Society] |
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* [http://www.anapsid.org/ Melissa Kaplan's Green Iguana Information Collection] |
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* [http://www.iguanafoundation.org International Iguana Foundation] |
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* [http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/iguana.htm Research papers on Green iguana] |
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* {{dmoz|Recreation/Pets/Reptiles_and_Amphibians/Lizards/Iguanas/}} |
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* [http://www.bobbyrica.com/2008/12/08/iguanas-in-panama/ A study of Iguanas in Panama Region] |
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{{Iguanidae}} |
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{{good article}} |
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[[Category:Iguanidae]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Central America|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Guatemala|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Honduras|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Mexico|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of South America|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Brazil|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of Guyana|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Reptiles of the Caribbean|Iguana, Green]] |
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[[Category:Animals described in 1758]] |
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{{Link GA|pl}} |
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{{Link FA|ru}} |
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{{Link FA|fr}} |
Revision as of 11:05, 21 May 2014
Green iguana[1] | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | I. iguana
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Binomial name | |
Iguana iguana | |
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Synonyms | |
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The green iguana or common iguana (Iguana iguana) is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area, from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. They are very common throughout Puerto Rico, where they are collaquially known as "Gallina de palo" and considered as an invasive species introduced from South America; in the United States feral populations exist in South Florida (including the Florida Keys), Hawaii, and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 pounds (9.1 kg).
Commonly found in captivity as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly. Space requirements and the need for special lighting and heat can prove challenging to an amateur hobbyist.
Taxonomy and etymology
The species was first officially described by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1758.[2] In the two centuries since then, numerous subspecies have been identified, but later classified as merely regional variants of the same species.[2]
Using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA-sequence data to explore the phylogenic history of the green iguana, scientists from Utah Valley State College studied animals collected from 17 different countries.[3] The topology of phylogeny indicated that the species originated in South America and eventually radiated through Central America and the Caribbean.[3] The study revealed no unique mitochondrial DNA haplotypes for subspecific status but did indicate the deep lineage divergence between Central and South American populations.[3]
The word iguana is derived from a Spanish form of the Taíno name for the species: iwana.[4][5] In some Spanish speaking countries, males of the species are referred to as gorrobo or ministro and juveniles are called iguanita or gorrobito.[6]
Distribution and habitat
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Iguana_from_Vereda_del_Lago_2.jpg/220px-Iguana_from_Vereda_del_Lago_2.jpg)
The native range of the green iguana extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Bolivia and the Caribbean; specifically Grenada, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Útila.[7][8] They have been introduced to Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and the United States Virgin Islands;[8][9][10] and colonised the island of Anguilla in 1995 after being washed ashore following a hurricane. Though the species is not native to Martinique, a small wild colony of released or escaped green iguanas endures at historic Fort Saint Louis.[11]
Green iguanas are diurnal, arboreal, and are often found near water.[12][13] Agile climbers, Iguana iguana can fall up to 50 feet (15 m) and land unhurt (iguanas use their hind leg claws to clasp leaves and branches to break a fall).[13][14][15] During cold, wet weather, green iguanas prefer to stay on the ground for greater warmth.[6] When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes.[6]
Because of the green iguana's popularity in the pet trade and as a food source in Latin America, they are listed on the CITES Appendix II, which means that while they are not an endangered species, "their trade must be controlled so as to not harm the species in the future". The iguanas are often referred to as "disposable pets" due to owners not taking proper care of them and later disposing of them.[16]
Anatomy and morphology
Despite their name, green iguanas can come in different colors. In southern countries of their range, such as Peru, green iguanas appear bluish in color with bold blue markings.[13] On islands such as Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba, and Grenada, a green Iguana's color may range from green to lavender, black, and even pink.[5][13] green iguanas from the western region of Costa Rica are red and animals of the northern ranges, such as Mexico, appear orange.[5][13] Juvenile green iguanas from El Salvador are often bright blue as babies, however they lose this color as they get older.[5]
Green iguanas possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators.[13] Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one.[17] In addition, iguanas have a well developed dewlap which helps regulate their body temperature.[14] This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays.[5][13][18]
Green iguanas have excellent vision, enabling them to detect shapes and motions at long distances.[19] As green iguanas have only a few rod cells, they have poor vision in low-light conditions. At the same time, they have cells called “double cone cells” that give them sharp color vision and enable them to see ultraviolet wavelengths.[19] This ability is highly useful when basking so the animal can ensure that it absorbs enough sunlight in the forms of UVA and UVB to produce vitamin D.[5][15]
Green iguanas have a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads called the parietal eye (also called third eye, pineal eye or pineal gland), in contrast to most other lizards which have lost this primitive feature.[19] This "eye" has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images,[19] but is sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement.[19] This helps the iguana detect predators stalking it from above.[19]
Green iguanas have very sharp teeth that are capable of shredding leaves and even human skin.[5] These teeth are shaped like a leaf, broad and flat, with serrations on the edge. The similarity of these teeth to those of one of the first dinosaurs discovered led to the dinosaur being named Iguanodon, meaning "iguana-tooth", and the incorrect assumption that it had resembled a gigantic iguana.[20] The teeth are situated on the inner sides of the jawbones which is why they are hard to see in smaller specimens.[18]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Iguana_iguana_-Palo_Verde_National_Park%2C_Costa_Rica_-in_tree-8a.jpg/220px-Iguana_iguana_-Palo_Verde_National_Park%2C_Costa_Rica_-in_tree-8a.jpg)
Primarily herbivorous, green iguanas are presented with a special problem for osmoregulation; plant matter contains more potassium and as it has less nutritional content per gram, more must be eaten to meet metabolic needs.[21] As green iguanas are not capable of creating liquid urine more concentrated than their bodily fluids, like birds they excrete nitrogenous wastes as urate salts through a salt gland.[21] As a result, green iguanas have developed a lateral nasal gland to supplement renal salt secretion by expelling excess potassium and sodium chloride.[21]
Green iguanas from Guatemala and southern Mexico predominantly have small horns on their snouts between their eyes and their nostrils, whereas others do not.[13] Naturalists once classified these iguanas as a separate subspecies (Iguana iguana rhinolopha); however, this classification has been found to be invalid based on mitochondrial DNA and iguanas with similar nose projections appear randomly in other populations and interbreed freely with those that do not share this trait.[5][13]
The green iguana is a large lizard and is probably the largest species in the iguana family, though a few in the Cyclura genus may match or exceed it in weight.[22] Adults typically grow to 1.2 to 1.7 m (3.9 to 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail.[5] As in all iguanas, the tail comprises much of this length, and the snout-to-vent length of most green iguanas is 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in). An average adult male will weigh around 4 kg (8.8 lb) while the smaller adult female will typically weigh 1.2 to 3 kg (2.6 to 6.6 lb).[23] A few large males can reach or exceed 6 to 8 kg (13 to 18 lb) in weight and 2 m (6.6 ft) long.[24] Some specimens have even reportedly been measured at a body weight of greater than 20 lb (9.1 kg).[5]
Reproductive biology
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Iguana3.jpg/170px-Iguana3.jpg)
Male green iguanas have highly developed femoral pores on the underside of their thighs which secrete a scent (females have femoral pores, but they are smaller in comparison to those of the males).[5] In addition, the dorsal spines that run along a green iguana's back are noticeably longer and thicker in males than they are in females, making the animals somewhat sexually dimorphic.[5]
Green iguanas are oviparous with females laying clutches of 20 to 71 eggs once per year during a synchronized nesting period.[17][25] The female green iguana gives no parental protection after egg laying, apart from defending the nesting burrow during excavation.[25] In Panama, the green iguana has been observed sharing nest sites with American crocodiles and in Honduras with spectacled caimans.[8]
The hatchlings emerge from the nest after 10–15 weeks of incubation.[17][25] Once hatched, the young iguanas look similar to the adults in color and shape, resembling adult females more so than males and lacking dorsal spines.[25]
Juveniles stay in familial groups for the first year of their lives.[25] Male green iguanas in these groups often use their own bodies to shield and protect females from predators and it appears to be the only species of reptile which does this.[26]
Behavior
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Iguana_iguana%2C_with_blue_and_red_coloration.jpg/220px-Iguana_iguana%2C_with_blue_and_red_coloration.jpg)
When frightened by a predator, green iguanas will attempt to flee, and if near a body of water, they dive into it and swim away.[6] If cornered by a threat, the green iguana will extend and display the dewlap under its neck, stiffen and puff up its body, hiss, and bob its head at the aggressor.[13] If threat persists the iguana can lash with its tail, bite and use its claws in defense.[6] The wounded are more inclined to fight than uninjured prey.[6]
Green iguanas use "head bobs" and dewlaps in a variety of ways in social interactions, such as greeting another iguana or to court a possible mate.[5] The frequency and number of head bobs have particular meanings to other iguanas.[13]
Green iguanas are hunted by predatory birds and their fear of these is exploited as a ploy to catch them in the wild.[6] The sound of a hawk's whistle or scream makes the iguana freeze and it becomes easier to capture.[6]
Diet
Green Iguanas are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of upwards of 100 different species of plant.[5][25] In Panama one of the green iguana's favorite foods is wild plum, Spondias mombin.[6]
Although they will consume a wide variety of foods if offered, green iguanas are naturally herbivorous and require a precise ratio of minerals (2 to 1 calcium to phosphorus) in their diet.[15][27] It is important for captive iguanas to have a variety of leafy greens along with fruits and vegetables such as turnip greens, collards, butternut squash, acorn squash, mango,and parsnip.[28][29] Juvenile iguanas often eat feces from adults in order to acquire the essential microflora to digest their low-quality and hard to process vegetarian only diet.[6][25]
There is some debate as to whether captive green Iguanas should be fed animal protein.[5] There is evidence of wild iguanas eating grasshoppers and tree snails, usually as a byproduct of eating plant material.[30][31] Wild adult green iguanas have been observed eating bird's eggs.[7] Zoologists, such as Adam Britton, believe that such a diet containing protein is unhealthy for the animal's digestive system resulting in severe long-term health damage including kidney failure and leading to premature death.[32] On the other side of the argument is that green iguanas at the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida, have been observed eating dead fish and individuals kept in captivity have been known to eat mice without any ill effects.[5] De Vosjoli writes that captive animals have been known to survive and thrive on eating nothing but whole rodent block, or monkey chow, and one instance of romaine lettuce with vitamin and calcium supplements.[5] However, it is only recommended that captive iguanas are not fed lettuce or meat, and instead receive the vitamins and minerals they need via a purely herbivore diet.
Captivity
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/GreenIguana.jpg/220px-GreenIguana.jpg)
The American pet trade has put a great demand on the green iguana; 800,000 iguanas were imported into the U.S. in 1995 alone, primarily originating from captive farming operations based in their native countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, and Panama).[33] However, these animals are demanding to care for properly over their lifetime, and many die within a few years of acquisition.[5][34]
Although, in captivity, green iguanas will eat meat if presented with it, excessive consumption of animal protein results in severe kidney problems and possible premature death.[5][32] Misinformed pet owners tend to feed iguanas iceberg lettuce, which provides iguanas with water but has no other nutritional value.[15] A captive Green Iguana's diet should consist of fresh leafy vegetables such as mustard greens, collard greens, dandelion, arugula, or kale and access to fresh water.[5]
Green iguanas will thrive only in temperatures of 79 °F (26 °C) to 95 °F (35 °C) and must have appropriate sources of UVB and UVA lighting, or else their bodies cannot produce vitamin D that promotes calcium absorption, which can result in a metabolic bone disease that can be fatal.[5][15] In some locales (New York City and Hawaii), iguanas are considered exotic pets, and are prohibited from ownership.[35][36] Due to the potential impact of an introduced species on Hawaii's ecosystem, the state has strict regulations regarding the import and possession of green iguanas; violators can spend three years in jail and be fined up to $200,000.[37]
As an invasive species
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Baby_Iguana_in_Curacao.jpg/220px-Baby_Iguana_in_Curacao.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Iguana_iguana_Portoviejo_04.jpg/220px-Iguana_iguana_Portoviejo_04.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/St_Thomas_Marriott_Iguana_8.jpg/220px-St_Thomas_Marriott_Iguana_8.jpg)
Caribbean
In the aftermath of two Caribbean hurricanes in 1995, a raft of uprooted trees with a group of fifteen green iguanas landed on the eastern side of Anguilla – an island where that species have never been recorded previously.[38] Biologist Ellen Censky, of the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, believes that the new iguanas had accidentally become caught on the trees and rafted two hundred miles across the ocean from Guadeloupe, where green iguanas are an indigenous species.[39] By examining the weather patterns and ocean currents, Censky has shown that the iguanas had spent three weeks at sea before arriving on the island.[39] This colony began breeding on the new island within two years of its arrival.[39]
In February 2012, the government of Puerto Rico proposed that the islands' iguanas, which were said to have a population of four million and considered to be a non-native nuisance, be eradicated and sold for meat.[40][41]
Fiji
The green iguana is present on some of the islands of Fiji, where it is known as the American iguana. They pose a threat to the native iguanas through the potential spread of disease and to humans by spreading salmonella. They were initially brought to Qamea in 2000 by an American who wanted them to eat the numerous insects on the island. They are now present on the islands of Laucala, Matagi and Taveuni.[42][43]
United States
The green iguana is established on Oahu and Maui, Hawaii as a feral species (despite strict legislation banning the importation of any reptiles)[44][45] and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.[13] As most reptiles carry salmonella, this is a concern and a reason legislation has been sought to regulate the trade in green iguanas.[8]
Due to a combination of events, the green iguana is considered an invasive species in South Florida and is found along the gulf coast of Florida from Key West to Pinellas County.[8][18][46] The original small populations in the Florida Keys were animals that were stowaways on ships carrying fruit from South America.[47] Over the years, other iguanas were introduced into the wild mostly originating through the pet trade. Some were escapees and some were intentionally released by their owners; these iguanas survived and then thrived in their new habitat.[46] They commonly hide in the attics of houses and on beaches. They often destroy gardens and landscaping.[46] They seem to be fond of eating a native endangered plant, Cordia globosa and feeding on nickernut (Caesalpinia) a primary food plant of the endangered Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri); additionally on Marco Island, green iguanas have been observed using the burrows of the Florida burrowing owl, a species of special concern, all of which can make them more of a serious threat to Florida's ecosystem than originally believed.[8][47]
In January 2008, large numbers of iguanas established in Florida dropped from the trees in which they lived, due to uncommonly cold nights that put them in a state of torpor and caused them to lose their grip on the tree branches.[48] Though no specific numbers were provided by local wildlife officials, local media described the phenomenon as a "frozen iguana shower" in which dozens "littered" local bike paths. Upon the return of daytime warmth many (but not all) of the iguanas "woke up" and resumed their normal activities.[49] This occurred again in January 2010 after a prolonged cold front once again hit southern Florida.[50]
Cultural references
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Iguana_market_nicaragua.jpg/220px-Iguana_market_nicaragua.jpg)
The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped animals and often depicted Green Iguanas in their art.[51] The Green iguana and its relative the Black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) have been used as a food source in Central and South America for the past 7000 years.[4] It is possible that some of the populations in the Caribbean were translocated there from the mainland by various tribes as a food source.[4] In Central and South America, Green Iguanas are still used as a source of meat and are often referred to as gallina de palo, "bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree,"[6] because they are said to taste like chicken.[52]
References
- ^ "Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 4 September 2008.
- ^ a b Hollingsworth, Bradford D. (2004), "The Evolution of Iguanas an Overview and a Checklist of Species", Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, University of California Press, pp. 40–41, ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ a b c Stephen, Catherine (2006), "Genetic Studies Update", Iguana Journal of the International Iguana Society, 13 (2): 127
{{citation}}
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ignored (help) - ^ a b c Coles, William (2002), "Green Iguana" (PDF), U.S.V.I. Animal Fact Sheet #08, Department of Planning and Natural Resources US Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u De Vosjoli, Phillipe (2003), The Green Iguana Manual, Advanced Vivarium Systems, ISBN 978-1-882770-67-0
{{citation}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Swanson, Paul L (1950), "The Iguana: Iguana iguana iguana", Herpetolgica, 6: 187–193
- ^ a b Lazell, J.D. (1973), "The lizard genus Iguana in the Lesser Antilles", Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, vol. 145, New York, pp. 1–28
- ^ a b c d e f Krysko, Kenneth L; Enge, Kevin M; Donlan, Ellen M; Seitz, Jason C (2007), "Distribution, Natural History, and Impacts of the Introduced Green Iguana in Florida", Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles, 14 (3), International Reptile Conservation Foundation: 142–151
- ^ Mani, Bina (2002-07-17), Wild Blue Iguanas plummeting towards extinction, retrieved 2007-10-28 Scholar search
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(help); External link in
(help)|accessdate=
- ^ Seidel, M; Franz, R (1994), "Amphibians and reptiles (exclusive of marine turtles) of the Cayman Islands", The Cayman Islands: natural history and biogeography, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 407–434, ISBN 978-0-7923-2462-1
- ^ Breuil, Michel (2000), "Taxon reports: i. delicatissima and i. iguana" (PDF), West Indian Iguana Specialist Group Newsletter, 3 (1), IUCN: 4–5, retrieved 14 February 2012
- ^ Cogger, Harold; Zweifel, Richard (1992), Reptiles & Amphibians, Sydney, Australia: Weldon Owen, p. 140, ISBN 0-8317-2786-1
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Samuelson, Phillip (1995-06-01), "The Lizard King", Reptiles Magazine, 3 (2): 64–84
- ^ a b Bebler, John L.; King, F. Wayne (1979), The Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of North America, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, pp. 511–512, ISBN 0-394-50824-6
- ^ a b c d e Rosenfeld, Arthur (1989), Exotic Pets, New York: Simon & Schuster, p. 105, ISBN 0-671-47654-8
- ^ "Appendices I,II, and III", Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 2007-09-13, archived from the original on 2007-10-16, retrieved 2007-10-28
- ^ a b c Capula, Massimo (1989), Simon & Schuster's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the World, New York: Simon & Schuster, ISBN 0-671-69098-1
{{citation}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Conant, Roger; Collins, Joseph (1991), A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians Eastern/Central North America, Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 94–95, ISBN 0-395-58389-6
- ^ a b c d e f Brames, Henry (2007), "Aspects of Light and Reptile Immunity" (PDF), Iguana: Conservation, Natural History, and Husbandry of Reptiles, 14 (1), International Reptile Conservation Foundation: 19–23
- ^ Norman, David B. (2004), "Basal Iguanodontia", in Weishampel, D.B., Dodson, P., and Osmólska, H. (eds.) (ed.), The Dinosauria (2nd ed.), Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 413–437, ISBN 0-520-24209-2
{{citation}}
:|editor=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ a b c Hazard, Lisa C. (2004), "Sodium and Potassium Secretion by Iguana Salt Glands", Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, University of California Press, pp. 84–85, ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ Green Iguana, Iguana iguana, Giant Green Iguana Facts and Care. Animal-world.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.
- ^ Rivas, J.A. (2008) Pers. comm.
- ^ Green Iguana – Iguana iguana : WAZA : World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. WAZA. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g Burghart, Gordon (2004), "Iguana Research: Looking Back and Looking Ahead", Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, University of California Press, pp. 5–10, ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ Rivas, Jesus; Levin, Luis E (2004), "Sexually Dimorphic Antipredator Behavior in Juvenile Green Iguanas", Iguanas: Biology and Conservation, University of California Press, p. 121, ISBN 978-0-520-23854-1
- ^ Kaplan, Melissa (2007-04-19). "'MK Diet' – The Short Version". Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection. anapsid.org. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ "Food Information Chart". Green Iguana Society.
- ^ "Food Chart". Iguana Zone.
- ^ Townsend, Josiah H.; John Slapcinsky; Kenneth L. Krysko; Ellen M. Donlan; Elizabeth A. Golden (2005). "Predation of a Tree Snail Drymaeus multilineatus (Gastropoda: Bulimulidae) by Iguana iguana(Reptilia: Iguanidae) on Key Biscayne, Florida" (PDF). SouthEastern Naturalist. pp. 361–364. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
- ^ Meshaka, Walter; Bartlett, Richard; Smith, Henry (2007-04-19), Iguana: Journal of the International Iguana Society, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Zoology and Botany.
{{citation}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ a b Britton, Adam (2007-04-19). "Animal Protein and Claw Trimming". Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection. anapsid.org. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ "Green Iguana", Reptiles and Amphibians Fact Sheets, National Zoological Park, 2007
- ^ Loukopoulos P, Komnenou A, Papadopoulos E, Psychas V (2007), "Lethal Ozolaimus megatyphlon infection in a green iguana (Iguana iguana rhinolopa)", Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, 38 (1): 131–4, PMID 17469289
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Blood, Michael R (1999-06-30), "Exotic Pets' Days Numbered", New York Daily News
- ^ ""Green Iguana Society Adoption Board" (discussion board)". Boardhost.com. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ Iguana & Illegal Lizard Turned In Under Amnesty, State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, 2002-04-16
- ^ Lawrence, Eleanor (15 October 1998). "Iguanas ride the waves". Nature.
- ^ a b c Censky, Ellen (December 27, 1998), "Rafting Iguanas and a Job in Storrs", Article, The New York Times
- ^ "Puerto Rico plans to kill iguanas, export meat to help eradicate species". Associated Press. February 3, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2012. [dead link]
- ^ "Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands to cull populations of invasive green iguanas". Green Antilles. 2012-02-06. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
- ^ Thomas, Nunia (2010-04-27). "American iguanas in Fiji". NatureFiji-MareqetiViti. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
- ^ Field, Michael (2011-11-13). "'Aliens' invade Fiji isles|". Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
- ^ Perry, Brian (2006-04-12), "Leaping lizards! Girl sights iguana in Kahului", The Maui News
- ^ Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture News Release – NR09-03, 2009-02-05
- ^ a b c Lush, Tamara (2005-07-26), "Florida's Iguana Infestation", St. Petersburg Times
- ^ a b Youth, Howard (2005), "Florida's Creeping Crawlers", Zoogoer, 20 (3)
- ^ Cold Snap Causes Frozen Iguana Shower, WESH, 2008
- ^ "Alien Iguanas Fall From Florida Trees During Cold Snap", Associated Press, National Geographic Society, 2008
- ^ "Cold tightens grip, all the way to Florida iguanas". Associated Press. cleveland.com. January 6, 2010.
- ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1997.
- ^ Gruson, Lindsey (1989-08-22). "A Plan to Save Iguanas, and Rain Forests in the Bargain". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikispecies-logo.svg/34px-Wikispecies-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Green Iguana Society
- Melissa Kaplan's Green Iguana Information Collection
- International Iguana Foundation
- Research papers on Green iguana
- Green iguana at Curlie
- A study of Iguanas in Panama Region