Iguanas Explained #12. There are 45 different iguana species
They live on land, in rocks, and in trees. The iguana was first observed by an Austrian
nationalist in the 18th century. Since then, over 45 species have been identified. Many iguanas are
not native to the land they currently inhabit. The most common species of iguana is the green iguana.
However, the most visually striking species is the Grand Cayman iguana or blue iguana. There s
also the Galapagos Islands iguana which has the ability to swim underwater.
#11. Iguanas hate the cold Iguanas are cold blooded organisms. This means
that they lack the ability to control their own body temperature. And so, they need to find the
need a means to keep their temperature warm, lest they die. And for most iguanas, the key to doing
that is sunbathing. If the body temperature of an Iguana falls beneath 40 Fahrenheits, their muscles
essentially become paralyzed and they fall into hibernation. When they are in their native regions
in the tropics, this rarely happens. However, in places like Florida, where they have been
introduced by humans, they need to sunbathe so as to stop themselves from ceasing to function.
#10. Iguanas have a couple of great defense mechanisms
Iguanas have quite a few predators. These include Raccoons, fish, crows, vultures, and feral pigs.
However, iguanas are not easy pickings for these predators. They do a good job at fighting back
sometimes. One of the main things they do to get away from predators is to thrash their tails.
This often startles the predators and wards them off. If that doesn t work, then they can sever or
atomize their tails completely. When the tails are separated from their bodies, they thrash around,
distracting the predators. If neither of these things works and an iguana gets captured, well,
their predators may find that they have bitten more than they can chew.
The spikes on their back make it very hard for a predator to consume them.
#9. Some iguanas can change color When people usually think of color-changing
organisms, chameleons come to mind. However, certain species of iguana can also change
their color too. A particularly colorful species of iguana, the Fiji banded iguana,
has a typical green and white appearance. However, when threatened these iguanas can turn themselves
completely black, signaling to would-be predators that they aren t worth eating. This is a
scientific phenomenon known as aposematism. #8. Some iguanas are excellent swimmers
We ve already mentioned that iguanas typically live on land, in rocks, and in trees. We ve also
already mentioned that since they are cold blooded, they need to keep themselves warm.
In spite of these two facts, there are certain species of iguana which love to swim. The iguanas
of the Galapagos Islands are well adapted to swimming and spend quite a bit of time
underwater. They can dive up to 100 feet beneath the surface of the water. They typically feed on
the algae attached to the underwater rocks. But since they need to keep warm, they don t stay
submerged too long. And since they are black in color, they can absorb heat really quickly.
#7. They are herbivorous Ironically, even though they
are herbivorous, they have a higher bite force relative to their size than their carnivorous
and omnivorous counterparts. This helps them acquire, process, and digest plant matter
way easier. This extraordinary bite force is reflected in the morphology of their skull.
They have taller and wider skulls, shorter snouts, and larger bodies relative to carnivorous
and omnivorous reptiles. The increased strength of the skull allows for higher muscle mass and
consequently a stronger bite force. #6. Iguanas have a third eye
They have a pale-looking scale towards the back of their heads that marks what is referred to
as the parietal eye . Unlike the iguana s two main eyes, the parietal eye is not as
physiologically developed. It can t create detailed images like the other two eyes can.
However, it is sensitive to changes in lightness and darkness. It can also detect movement. This,
in combination with their main two eyes, is quite effective in helping iguanas avoid predators.
Their main eyes are great by themselves, capable of detecting a wide array of colors. It can also
help them see quite some distance away. #5. They have surprisingly long lifespans
They can live as little as six years. And they can live as long as sixty years. Naturally,
the exact age will vary based on the species and the individual. And it also varies based
on if they live in the wild or in captivity. Most organisms tend to live better in captivity
since they don t have to worry about finding food or avoiding predators. Most iguanas achieve full
size after only 4 years of age. The Grand Cayman rock iguana has the longest lifespan and the
marine iguana has the shortest lifespan. #4. Iguanas can communicate with each other
Iguanas may not be the most developed of species but they communicate with each other pretty well.
Iguanas, tend to mostly rely on visual signals in the form of body language. They communicate
with each other by bobbing their heads. They also move the flap of skin under their necks called a
dewlap. Slow up and down head bobbing is usually a sign of iguanas acknowledging and greeting each
other. Faster head bobbing is usually a sign of agitation and aggression. They may be putting
on a territorial display. Aggressive head bobbing or tail whipping is a sign that iguanas are upset
and you shouldn t approach them. Extending their dewlap can be a sign of greeting. Males will also
flap their dewlap when courting females. #3. Iguana s typically shed their skin
Skin shedding is a known phenomenon among reptiles. However, when people are typically
asked about it, the creature that is most usually mentioned is the snake. As it turns out, Iguanas
shed their skin too. This happens naturally throughout their lives. As they grow, their
skin cells grow old and die. And so, shedding is the process of getting rid of these old cells
so new ones can take their place. Unlike how it happens with snakes, an Iguana shedding its
skin is a really uneven process. It can happen evenly, of course, indicating that the iguana in
question is really healthy. Otherwise, the skin falls off in patches and most iguanas
will need to scratch their backs against rough surfaces like rocks to complete the process.
#2. Iguanas can recognize their owners by sight and sound
Iguanas have fairly strong senses and are able to clearly see their owners and recognize them.
They may not come calling to their owners like a dog would. But then, they react to them in their
own way. Sometimes this recognition happens by sound. Iguanas do not have ears like humans or
dogs do. Instead, they have a specialized tissue known as a tympanic membrane which can pick out
auditory vibrations in the air. While they hear sounds in a different frequency range
from that heard by humans, they can clearly pick out familiar voices and other noises.
#1. They carry salmonella bacteria Salmonella is one of the most popular
disease-causing bacteria in existence. And it just so happens that most iguanas carry this bacteria
in their bodies. Particularly in their digestive tracts. Iguana s have evolved to not be affected
by these salmonella bacteria. However, anytime the iguana passes stool, it contains these bacteria.
And so, In order for humans to prevent themselves from contracting salmonella from iguanas,
they need to be very particular about their personal hygiene. Frequent handwashing goes
a long way. Also, an iguana s stool should be cleaned up the moment it is passed.
Which Iguanas fact did you find most surprising?
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