Green Iguana
Green, or common iguanas are among the most popular reptile pets in the United States. Iguanas are from the family called Iguanidae. This is a group of animals made up of lizards. In the wild iguanas are usually found in South American rain forests. They have also been seen in Central America, Puerto Rico, and Florida.
Iguanas are herbivores, so they like to eat leaves, flowers, and types of fruit. Iguanas are diurnal, which means they are awake during the day, and they sleep at night. These reptiles are great swimmers, and use their tail to swim. When iguanas are frightened, they will leap from a branch into the water. They are also tough enough to leap from a branch and land on solid land, from as high as 40feet, and still be alive! These reptiles have strong jaws and very sharp teeth; they also have a sharp tail. If they are threatened, sometimes they will whip their tails at the predator to scare them off. Iguanas must be kept in a warm environment, between 70 and 80 degrees, so their body temperature won’t get too low. If it does, it can be fatal to them. Male green iguanas have a special flap, called the dewlap. They can raise it to appear bigger to intimidate predators, or to impress the females. Male and female iguanas can both store fat under their jaws and in their neck, for when food becomes scarce. Iguanas tend to live alone, but may be seen in a group on hot days to get sunny spots to lie in. During their mating season, make iguanas tend to get slightly aggressive, and their breeding season lasts up to 3 months. Females lay their eggs about 60 to 65 days after mating. Iguanas lay eggs in burrows that they live in, after the female lays her eggs; she leaves and does not return. They also dig fake burrows so predators get confused. After the eggs are hatched the babies grow up with no parental help. The iguanas will never meet their mother. The iguana’s life span can be between 15 and 20 years, if it is cared for good. Some iguanas have a much
Iguanas are herbivores, so they like to eat leaves, flowers, and types of fruit. Iguanas are diurnal, which means they are awake during the day, and they sleep at night. These reptiles are great swimmers, and use their tail to swim. When iguanas are frightened, they will leap from a branch into the water. They are also tough enough to leap from a branch and land on solid land, from as high as 40feet, and still be alive! These reptiles have strong jaws and very sharp teeth; they also have a sharp tail. If they are threatened, sometimes they will whip their tails at the predator to scare them off. Iguanas must be kept in a warm environment, between 70 and 80 degrees, so their body temperature won’t get too low. If it does, it can be fatal to them. Male green iguanas have a special flap, called the dewlap. They can raise it to appear bigger to intimidate predators, or to impress the females. Male and female iguanas can both store fat under their jaws and in their neck, for when food becomes scarce. Iguanas tend to live alone, but may be seen in a group on hot days to get sunny spots to lie in. During their mating season, make iguanas tend to get slightly aggressive, and their breeding season lasts up to 3 months. Females lay their eggs about 60 to 65 days after mating. Iguanas lay eggs in burrows that they live in, after the female lays her eggs; she leaves and does not return. They also dig fake burrows so predators get confused. After the eggs are hatched the babies grow up with no parental help. The iguanas will never meet their mother. The iguana’s life span can be between 15 and 20 years, if it is cared for good. Some iguanas have a much