Leapin' Lizards!

Iguanas are really cute cool pets when they are small hatchlings, but what do you do with them when they GROW-UP? And they will grow! Including its tail, an adult Iguana can grow to 6 feet long. Then they are not so cute. Iguanas have a strong bite which includes serrated triangular teeth that are designed to shear plant material but also do a good job of cutting through human and animal flesh. Iguanas are not aggressive lizards, they will run when approached by humans or pets, but if cornered or captured they will bite, they will scratch with their long, extremely sharp claws and they will deliver a painful slap with their long, muscularly-powerful tails.

Identification

The Common Green Iguana occurs throughout Central and South America, from Sinaloa and Veracruz, Mexico, south to the Tropic of Capricorn in Paraguay and southeast Brazil. Iguanas are not native to Florida. Obviously they did not fly or walk here and even though they can swim, they did not swim here. Populations of feral Iguanas living in Florida were imported as pets which have escaped or been released and have become established in South Florida.

Although called Green Iguanas, adults become a grayish-brown color with age. Young Iguanas may be green with brown bands. The color of an Iguana may vary based upon its mood, temperature, health, or social status. Iguanas are able to alter their skin color for thermo-regulation. In the morning, while the Iguana's body temperature is low, the skin color will be darker, helping the lizard to absorb heat from sunlight. As the sunlight warms them up Iguanas become paler helping to reflect the sun rays and minimize heat absorption.

Other distinguishing features of Common Green Iguana include a dewlap under the throat, a dorsal crest made up of dermal spines that run from the mid neck to the tail base, and a long tapering banded tail. The dewlap is more developed in adult males than females. Extensions of the hyoid bones stiffen and support the leading edge of this skin structure which is used in territorial defense or when the animal is frightened. This flap of skin also regulates heat absorption and dissipation when it is extended.

The Iguanas' eyes are protected by an immovable eyelid and closable lower eyelid. Behind the eyes on the skull Iguanas' have a third eye known are a parietal eye. This sense organ, although not a true "eye," helps the Iguana to detect shadows of predators which may be lurking above them.

IGUANA FAST FACTS

• Iguanas can live for more than 20 years in captivity. Wild iguanas live only about 8 years.
• The large circular scale on the Iguana's face below its ear hole or tympanum is known as the sub-tympanic plate.
• When frightened, an Iguana will freeze, run or hide. If caught, they will twist and rotate like a snake or alligator and whip their tails in an effort to strike their attacker.
• Iguanas can swim. If frightened near water they will dive in and swim away to escape.
• Like the little Anole lizard, Iguanas can autotomatize, or drop of part of their tail. This gives them a chance to escape while their predator is attracted by the discarded tail piece temporarily squiggling around on its own. A new tail will sprout from the autotomatized spot and regrow with in a year, though not to the same length it was before.
• Supposedly it is illegal to release Iguanas in Florida, but I was unable to find the text of the code often cited elsewhere to verify that.
• Iguanas are considered exotic unprotected wildlife, so they can be captured and removed from private property without special permits. However, anticruelty laws apply; only live traps and snares are legal in Florida. While it may be effective, you cannot shoot Iguanas.
• Know as “Caribbean Chicken”,  adult iguana meat and the eggs are eaten and considered a delicacy throughout their native range. Don't give me that look, you've tried Gator Tail and liked it, haven't you?
• Iguana stew is rumored to be a cure for impotence.
• Their feces are plentiful, odiferous, and carry salmonella.
• Iguanas dig burrows which undermine sidewalks, seawalls, and foundations.

Predators

Cats, dogs, raccoons, fish crows, vultures, feral pigs, snakes, hawks, owls, and egrets might diet on the eggs or young hatchlings. Alligators my possibly eat Iguanas if they catch them in the water.