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Green Iguana

Page history last edited by William C 13 years, 11 months ago

 

 

 

 

The Green Iguana

 

 

  I.    Iintroduction

Deep in the rainforest there are many types of  lizards, but there is not many like the amazing green iguana.  The green iguana is extremely fascinating to me because it has the ability to change colors and many other cool traits.  In the book "Green Iguanas" I learned many interesting facts about how and where they live, their habits, eating likes and dislikes and survival skills.

 

II.    Relatives 

The green iguana is part of the Iguanidae Family.  Some of its closest relatives are the rock iguana, marine iguanas, Galapagos land iguana, desert iguana, the chuckwalla and the Fijian banded iguana.  They are part of the reptilia class and the aminalia kingdom.

 

III.  Physical Appearance

Green iguanas can vary in size growing anywhere from four to seven feet in length.  This includes their tail, which can make up half their body length.  They are green in color and have black stripes, but have the ability to camouflage themselves to blend in easily to their surroundings to hide from danger.  Their color can change as they get older and if they are ill.   From a bright green to a dull grayish-green. They have long fingers and claws to help them climb and grasp onto things.  Their skin is rough and they have a set of pointy scales along their back.                                                                                                        Green iguana sitting on a log.

 

                                                            

 

IV.  Where do they live?

This very cool iguana can be found in Mexico, South America, Paraguay and on the Caribbean Islands.  Iguanas live in tropical rainsforests, near rivers or streams.  They spend most of their time in trees about 40-50 feet above the ground.  They can dive from trees into water and swim.    They can also be found in California, Florida and Hawaii but only from having escaped from captivity or were released by someone who had them as a pet.

 

V.   What do they eat?

Green iguana are considered omnivorous, which means they eat plants and meat.  But they like plants better, especially leaves and fruits.  Young iguanas will eat eggs, insects and other small animals.

 

The green iguanas food.

                                                                 A green iguana hunting for food

 

 

                                                                 VI. What are their natural enemies?

The jaguar and other meat eater predators are the iguana's enemies.

 

 

The green iguanas natural enemay 

                                                                The green iguanas natural enemy.

 

 

   VII.  How does it defend itself?

Because they are fast in escaping and have the ability to detach their tail in case of emergency, they tend to get away from other predators.  They have excellent hearing, smelling and vision.  Their skin is rough and tough to avoid cuts and scratches.  Because they are able to camouflage themselves they can hide in their surrounding and be undected.

 

VIII.   When do they reproduce?

They tend to live alone, but sometime may live in small groups in sunny spots where they can lay in the sun. Female iguana's lay about 50 eggs at a time in holes in the ground called burrows.  Once the eggs are are lay ed, the mother leaves the eggs and will not return.  It will take 8-10 weeks for them to hatch.  When the babies hatch, they grow up on their own, without their parents.  Out of the 50 eggs lay ed, only 3-10 babies will make it to become adult iguana's  which takes about 2 years.

 

 IX.  How do they and humans get along?

The green iguana makes an excellent pet, so they are considered a victim of the pet industry and there is a big demand for their capture.  Most of the ones that are raised for pets are born on iguana farms.  In some South America areas, the iguanas are hunted for food and are called the "bamboo chicken".

 

   X.  Are they rare, threatened or endangered?

 

They are not considered an endangered animal, but in some places like Belize it is because the females are hunted   The large females are especially liked to be captured and used on the iguana farms.

 

XI.   Where do they sleep?

Most of the time they sleep in tree canopy's 40-50 feet in the air on their bellies with their eyes closed.  The third eye on the top of their head stays open.  They sleep at night and are awake during the daytime.

 

  XII.   How does it adapt?

Iguana's do not produce their own body heat, so if it's cold, they are cold, if it's hot, they are hot.  To stay warm, they bask in the sun on rocks or on things that hold the heat close to their bodies.  If living in captivity, they require sun lamps to keep them warm.

 

XIII.   What are some of their habits?

One of the most interesting thing about the iguana is that they feel stress and show their stress by changing its color.  They are very affectionate and love to get into things.  Climbing trees, legs, furniture and hanging out like a house cat is just a few of the things that they do.

 

XV  Cconclusion

I hope you have learned about this amazing animal and remember don't cut down plants because there maybe a green iguana sitting or hiding out on that plant.

 

 

Works Cited

 

 

Book The Green Iguana by Jake Miller

 

 

Encyclopedias:  Huey, Raymond B. "iguana". World book encyclopedia.  2001.  

 

 

Websitehttp://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptials/greeniguana.html

Comments (3)

William C said

at 9:12 am on Apr 22, 2010

nice

Marlon M said

at 9:13 am on Apr 22, 2010

awesome

Sean C said

at 9:14 am on Apr 22, 2010

nice

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