Green Iguanas, also knows by their Latin name Iguana Iguana, come from tropical areas of Central and South America. They are a large lizard, often growing up to 6 feet in captivity, if they are well fed and housed properly. They have long tails which make up about half of their length.
Despite the name 'green iguana', the color of your iguana as it grows may actually change. Although typically a brilliant emerald green when young, their color can change to a duller green or even a grayish or brownish-red color. You may also notice black stripes on them. The amount of sun your iguana receives will affect the color of its skin.
Iguanas spend most of their time in trees, where they find their food, and also where they find safety from the many predators that hunt iguanas for food. They have bodies that are especially suited to their arboreal - or tree dwelling - lives. First, it's green coloring functions as a camouflage that helps it blend in with the trees in which they live. Also, an iguana's feet feature long fingers and claws that help them grasp and climb the branches. And remember that long tail? It provides great balance, helping the iguana maintain a steady foot as it makes it's way through the trees.
Despite their fearsome appearance, iguanas are vegetarians that are hunted as prey by other animals. They have developed keen senses that allow them to avoid predators. With their keen senses of hearing, smell and sight, they can often detect predators long before the predator knows the iguana is around.
One of the iguana's best defense mechanisms is it's tail, and it can use it in various ways to protect itself. Not only does it help with balance as the iguana jumps from branch to branch, it can be used as a weapon. Iguanas will swing their tails like a whip when cornered or if they feel threatened. Also, iguanas are very good swimmers, and can use their tail as a rudder when making their getaway.
Iguanas have a few other adaptations that help in their survival in the wild. They're quite tough, and can survive falls from high in the trees. Male iguanas have a fold of skin under their chin, called a 'dewlap'. This flap of skin is used to make the iguana appear larger to any threat, and is also used to impress the lady iguanas. Finally, iguanas store fat around their chin and neck during times when they find plenty of food, and this way are more able to survive when food is hard to find.
Lots of people keep iguanas as pets without knowing that they come from the tropics, and need certain habitat, food, and light requirements to survive as pets. If an iguana as pet isn't cared for properly, they can die very slow and painful deaths. If you are considering getting an iguana, please start by being informed about it's care.
