Iguana Facts

It was so cold in South Florida recently that iguanas fell from the trees.

The cold-blooded reptiles go into a deep sleep when the temperature falls into the 40s Fahrenheit (5 to 10 degrees Celsius). Their bodies turn gray, and they lose their grip, experts say.

Iguana Facts:

The word "Iguana" is derived from a Spanish form of the original Taino name for the species "Iwana".

Iguanas are able to hold their breath for up to 30 minutes.

They will often jump from tree to water using their powerful tail for swimming to escape. They are also able to leap down 40-50 feet without injury.

To attract a mate, mature males may turn orange during breeding season.

Iguanas store large amounts of fat in their lower jaw and neck area in order to survive times of famine. The pouch at the base of their neck is called a dewlap, and is used in display.

Their tail has weakened vertebrae so the iguana can break free and escape if caught by the tail. Iguanas are also able to whip their tail in defense, leaving behind a stinging welt or worse.

Many of us think lizards live only in deserts, yet the marine iguanas of the Galápagos Islands (off the coast of Ecuador) are excellent swimmers.


Some iguanas enjoy living in trees, such as the green iguanas of Central and South America. Because they are farmed for food there, these iguanas are called gallina de palo, or ?chicken of the tree.?


A male iguana's long, erect spines and extended dewlap, which make his head appear larger, are features that attract females. Battered and chewed spines indicate a male with a low position in the mating hierarchy. 


Iguana is a genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central and South America and the Caribbean first described by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena in 1768. The genus iguana includes two species: the Green Iguana and the Lesser Antillean Iguana.

Marine iguanas sneeze frequently to expel salt from glands near their nose. The salt often lands on their heads, giving them a distinctive white wig.

Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet (2 meters) in length and weighing about 11 pounds (5 kilograms).



They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly. In fact, most captive iguanas die within the first year, and many are either turned loose by their owners or given to reptile rescue groups.



Their appearance, behavior, and endangered status vary from species to species.

In Central America, where iguana meat is frequently consumed, iguanas are referred to as "bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the trees."