Iguana green (common) (Iguana iguana). common iguana green iguanas

The exotic iguana lizard looks impressive and beautiful, especially for our cold latitudes, but the desire to acquire such a pet often ends already at the stage of planning the arrangement of conditions for a reptile. Many are concerned about the question of how to care for an iguana at home, because this animal is accustomed to hot and cold conditions. humid climate Central and South America. Moreover, the question of a specific diet also remains open, since to ensure proper nutrition it’s not so easy for a tropical lizard, and the question of how to feed an iguana at home is quite acute.

In this article, we will try to answer most of the questions about this animal, as well as help you choose a healthy iguana as a pet.

Description

The iguana is a large herbivorous lizard that inhabits the tropical regions of America. The largest representative of the family reaches a total length of up to 1.5 m. A distinctive feature of these reptiles is their huge tail, the length of which is twice the length of the body. At the same time, the body reaches a length from the tip of the nose to the beginning of the tail no more than 40 cm. The mass of an adult male reaches 4 kg, females - up to 3 kg.

The body is thin, and the tail is flattened laterally. The upper body of the iguana is covered with a longitudinal ridge, and a skin pouch is located on the throat. The paws of this lizard are short, powerful on the fingers, which helps the representatives of the species feel great among tree plantations.

Did you know?The iguana was first described by Carl Linnaeus. This happened in 1758 in the tenth book of the scientist "Systems of Nature".

The body is completely covered with scales, which are arranged in transverse rows.

The color of the main representatives of the species is bright green, which helps the animal to hide among the tropical foliage. But many representatives also have a color from lilac and red to blue shades.

Body color primarily depends on the region natural habitat iguanas and the age of the individual.

The organs of vision are highly developed, the lizard can see objects at a great distance without problems, however, with the onset of night, the vision of the iguana deteriorates sharply. The hearing of the animal is perfectly developed, the auditory organs are able to catch the smallest rustle in the grass.

The teeth are sharp, with small denticles along the edges, but iguanas are predominantly herbivores.

Did you know?In addition to the light spectrum visible to humans, the domestic iguana is also able to see ultraviolet rays - this helps the lizard regulate the amount of vitamin D received during sunbathing.

Iguanas are distinguished by their characteristic salt metabolism between the body and the environment. Since these animals do not accumulate urine in the body, excess salts are excreted through special salt glands located on the head, in the form of a crystallized powder.

How to choose an iguana when buying

Choosing a healthy individual for keeping at home is not easy. In a pet store, both young and individuals who have visited more than one owner can be represented.

It is important to choose a healthy reptile, for this you need to examine the iguana from all sides.

The signs of a healthy and young animal are as follows:

• clean and healthy skin, without damage and abscesses;
• clean stomach, without burns, substrate residues and feces;
• clean and dry anus, without residual secretions;
• body without bruises and tumors;
• hind legs are equally formed, the lizard calmly steps on both legs;
• the eyes are clear, and the nose is clean, the oral cavity is also clean, and the mucous membranes are pinkish.

A healthy tamed iguana treats a person well and actively interacts with him, a healthy, but aggressive individual will strive to escape from the hands and may even try to hit you with his tail.

A sick animal will behave passively, and any person will be indifferent to it.

It is also important to examine the reptile for lateral folds from the front paws to the hips. If there are any, the animal is emaciated and dehydrated.

Conditions for keeping

Caring for an iguana at home and keeping it are not difficult, but this issue should be given special attention, since only the correct arrangement of the habitat in the apartment will contribute to a long and healthy life of the pet.

These lizards are whimsical about everything, especially temperature and humidity, then we will dwell on the conditions of detention in more detail.

Terrarium dimensions

As the animal grows older, the habitat must be increased to 500 liters or more. It is important to create coziness and really comfortable conditions.

Important!For too young individuals, it is not recommended to purchase a large cage, as this may adversely affect the development of the iguana.

To do this, lay a mat on the bottom of the terrarium of medium hardness, this will not only give comfort to the pet, but also make it easier to clean up after it. An important element will be a thick dry branched branch, along which the lizard will crawl with pleasure.
A good option would be an oak branch, which will also play the role of a natural antiseptic. The top of the branch should go towards the heating lamp. This is necessary in order for the animal to independently control the heating of its body.

A quarter of the reptile's habitat should be devoted to a pond. From it, the lizard will drink and undergo water procedures. It is also worth taking care of a heating lamp with automatic temperature control.

Temperature, lighting, humidity

The climate in the cage plays a key role in the proper maintenance of these lizards. The optimum air temperature will be +30 °С during the day and about +22 °С at night.

Important! Climbing branches should not come closer than 10 cm to the heating lamp, this will protect the iguana from possible burns.

This temperature should be shown by a thermometer, which is located on the opposite side of the heating lamp, however, near the lamp itself, the temperature should not exceed +38 ° C (at a distance of 15 cm).
For lighting, UV lamps must be installed. They should be located on the ceiling of the cage and burn together with a heating lamp during the daytime for 10-12 hours.

UV lamps must be changed at least once every six months. This will protect the lizard from a lack of vitamin D in the body.

Important!If you can't reach the optimum at 80% humidity, try to create less humid air than over-humidification.

Humidity in the terrarium should be within 80%. For better control, we recommend installing an automatic water sprayer or a fountain, a tray with ordinary water may not always provide the optimal level of air humidity.
A hygrometer should be used to control humidity, as excess moisture can lead to fungal infections in the iguana. You can buy such a device at any pet store.

In artificial conditions, ventilation is very important for representatives of the iguana family. The terrarium must have adjustable ventilation holes.

Drafts for this animal are contraindicated, so the ventilation holes should not be located opposite each other on opposite walls. Make them in one place, preferably in the upper corner of the cage.

pet care

Having a live iguana at home is more fun than a chore. Caring for this animal is not a difficult task, however, due to inexperience, most owners make many mistakes, which directly affects health and appearance iguanas. Let's deal with the main difficulties of keeping these lizards.

walks

Walking an iguana on the street is permissible only in hot weather. summer time at temperatures over +25 °C. Walking an animal is allowed in a square, park or garden only if it is completely tame.

When walking, it is important to ensure that the iguana does not run away from the owner and does not receive harm from other pets. Therefore, in the pet store you need to purchase a special collar with a leash.

Outside the terrarium, domestic lizards face many dangers; the first thing you should protect your pet from is poisonous, many of which can cause fatal outcome after consumption.

Therefore, it is important to ensure that the lizard does not eat anything during the walk. Be especially careful that the reptile does not pick up animal feces, wood, pebbles and other dirt - this can lead to blockage of the stomach and death of the animal.

Bathing

All iguanas love warm water, so your iguana will be happy if you give him a real swim at least once a week. To do this, fill the bath with warm water not higher than +35 ° C. After that, put a plank or branch in the water so that the reptile can climb on it.

Place the animal on a raised platform in the water and wait until the reptile climbs into the water. If this does not happen, lightly pour warm water over the pet. Bathing time - no more than 30 minutes, it is important to ensure that the water does not become too cold.

After water procedures wait for the reptile to cool down a little, then dry it with a towel and send it to the terrarium.

Cleaning

Cage cleaning should be done regularly. Remains of food, faeces and skin high temperature create ideal conditions for the development of dangerous bacteria, this can lead to infectious disease pet.

For wet cleaning, you can use special cleaning agents or baking soda. Chemicals should not contain chlorine or its traces, this can lead to dangerous diseases respiratory system iguanas.

It is also necessary to periodically wash the lamps of the terrarium. When cleaning, the animal is recommended to be transplanted to another place, and after cleaning its habitat, keep the cage empty for about 30 minutes.
The optimal period for cleaning is once a week. It is also important to change the water in the tank in a timely manner in order to avoid stagnation.

What does the iguana eat

AT vivo habitats for iguanas are flowers and leaves tropical plants. But, at home, the question of what the iguana eats is more than acute, since it will be difficult to create a rich diet for these animals under artificial conditions.

The optimal solution would be a diet consisting of maximum number and a selection of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Recommended foods for iguanas are turnips, parsley, grapes, sweet green peppers, beans, dandelions, leeks, peas, radishes, pears, blackberries, etc. The main rule for a healthy diet of these huge lizards is maximum variety.
Food should be supplied to the maximum with all the necessary nutrients, as well as vitamins and minerals, only in this case the pet will be healthy and active.

When feeding all iguanas, the following scheme should be strictly observed:

• up to 70% of the diet should be leafy plants, as well as a variety of vegetables;
• about 20% of total mass food should be fruits;
• well, for a little variety, you can feed the animal with a complex of cereals (up to 10% of the total diet).

Important! Due to the fact that the teeth of these lizards are small, and the jaw is weak and inactive, iguanas are not able to chew large and hard foods, so most food must be ground on a medium grater.

It is best to feed the lizard in the morning, as evening feeding can adversely affect digestive system reptiles.

Food can be given by hand or special feeders can be used.
After the meal, the remnants of food must be removed, since at high temperatures they begin to decompose very quickly. From such food, the animal can become poisoned and die.

Animal handling rules

Iguanas are rather unusual reptiles in terms of temperament, distinguished by their calmness and restive character, so you need to handle the animals with care. You need to take them in hand upper part in the forearm area.

You need to grab the body so that the paws are pressed to the body, but with the other hand you need to press the hind legs. Many advise using special gloves to protect yourself from the reptile's sharp claws.
In no case should an animal be taken by the tail, since it can throw it away, and if a tail can grow in young individuals, then this process is impossible in older individuals. It is impossible to squeeze the animal, as this can lead to prolapse of the cloaca.

From the branches, the reptile must be removed carefully and not torn off in any case. At the same time, you should not raise your voice, as the animal can hit you with its tail and even bite. Do not hold an iguana against its own will, as this can harm the health of the reptile.

In this article, we looked at what iguanas eat and how to properly care for them at home. Despite all the difficulties, caring for this reptile is a simple process. With proper observance of the listed secrets, the iguana will become the highlight of a living corner that will delight the owners and everyone around.

Green iguana ( iguana iguana) one of the largest lizards on the planet. bright coloring makes it very noticeable. Where do green iguanas live? Green iguanas live in the tropical rainforests of South America, among the misty mountains, big trees and millions of plants. This is where we will go to get acquainted with their way of life.

The life of green iguanas begins in the egg. There they develop for about three months and hatch almost all at the same time. After laying her eggs deep in a warm and safe burrow, the female iguana returns to the forest. Iguanas don't care about the younger generation. Having got out of the hole and found themselves on the surface in the forest, small iguanas are left to their own devices. At first, they try to stay in groups. By sticking out their tongue, newborn reptiles explore the air and each other. After three months of confinement in a cramped egg, external world frightening, but before they grow up, there is a lot to learn.

The first thing to do to survive is not to get caught by a predator. Surviving in the big jungle is not an easy task. Kids, not even knowing who is their enemy or friend, try to hide and run away from the perceived danger, using all the tricks and devices that nature has provided them with: move quickly, swim and even run on water. But still, someone will be unlucky, and he will be eaten. But by sacrificing one of their brethren, the others will learn their first lesson about who to fear.

The next task for the baby is to find food and shelter. Most of the time, green iguanas spend on the tops of trees near water bodies. Thin branches on the upper floors of the forest do not the best place for the living of such heavyweights. Adults weigh up to 13.5 kg, and reach a length of two meters, so they are ideally suited to live at a height of 30 meters. Their claws are like climbing cats, helping them climb trees well. Iguanas are very similar to small dinosaurs, although they actually feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits.

Predators wanting to taste tasty meat the iguana has enough. Among them are snakes, crocodiles, predator birds. The red-tailed hawk is strong enough to pull a full-grown iguana from the top of a tree, but the reptile, with its sharp eyesight, always sees a flying predator. At a critical moment, the iguanas jump from the tree into the water. By squeezing the lungs, they dampen the blow, and the tough skin allows them to withstand a fall from a thirty-meter height. They feel at home in the water. Iguanas have waterproof skin, can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, and also slow their heart rate. So as long as they don't move, they're safe.

But as soon as the iguana rises to the surface of the water for air, another no less scary predator- caiman. The only salvation from it can be a tree, so the iguanas are in a hurry to return under the cover of the forest. But back to our young iguanas. Instinct calls them to search for food and shelter. strange birds and the new sounds are frightening, but the hungry reptiles keep moving forward and up.

Despite the fact that they have just hatched from their eggs, young iguanas are very good with their paws. They are fully equipped from birth, their claws are no worse than those of their parents. On the trees green color iguanas are good camouflage, they blend in with the foliage, so the inexperienced eye may not notice them at all. But snakes have a trained eye and any slightest movement betrays small iguanas. The wine, or grape, also knows how to perfectly disguise itself, it waits for the approach of food, and when it appears, the reptile rarely misses its dinner. Only 5% of green iguanas become adults. Therefore, in order to survive a small lizard, you must constantly be on the alert.

After sunset, babies need to rest, for this they slow down their movement, lower their body temperature, and fall asleep. Reptiles are cold-blooded, meaning they keep warm solar heat, and when it gets cold, they freeze, as if they are running on solar panels. Small iguanas group and spend the night as if in a manger, but as soon as the sun warms up, they continue to move again.

Heading to the tops of trees for fresh and young shoots, small lizards enter the world of adult relatives. This meeting is good for them. Feeding on foliage and fruits, adults regularly drop droppings on the lower branches, which serve as healthy food for babies. For small iguanas, manure provides everything they need and is easily digestible. It has a lot of fruit sugars, vitamins and bacteria needed to start digestion.

Getting to the floor of adult iguanas, they gradually enter adulthood. Since adults do not pay attention to the young, they stick together for several months until they get stronger for self-defense. They become mature only after five years.

July 21st, 2013

common iguana was scientifically described by the Swedish physician and naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his System of Nature. In subsequent years, at least 17 more species and subspecies belonging to the common iguana were identified, but all of them, with the exception of the Caribbean green iguana were declared invalid.

In the first half of the 2000s, employees of the American University of the Utah Valley (Eng. Utah Valley University) conducted a study of the phylogenetic origin of the iguana using methods for comparing the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of animals brought from 17 countries. The analysis showed that the species originated in South America, from where it spread in Central America and to the Caribbean. Despite the diversity of colors and other morphological features, the study did not find unique mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, but showed a clear evolutionary divergence between the populations of South and Central America.

The name "iguana" originally comes from the word iwana - the name of the animal in the Taino language (the people who inhabited the islands of the Caribbean and disappeared with the advent of the conquistadors). The Spaniards began to call the reptile in their own way - iguana, and then from Spanish the word migrated both to scientific terminology and to all modern European languages.

The largest member of the family: the length of an adult iguana usually does not exceed 1.5 m with a weight of up to 7 kg, although in the forests of South America, some individuals can reach a length of 2 m with a weight of 8 kg. On the contrary, on semi-arid islands such as Curaçao, the size of lizards is usually 30% smaller than that of animals living on the mainland.

At birth, the length of the cubs varies from 17 to 25 cm and weighs about 12 g. Despite its name, the color of the iguana is not necessarily green, and largely depends on age and habitat. In the south of their range, such as in Peru, iguanas appear bluish with black spots. On the islands of Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba and Grenada, their color varies from green to pale lilac, black and even pink.

In the west of Costa Rica, common iguanas appear red, while in more northern regions, such as Mexico, they appear orange. In El Salvador, juveniles often look bright blue, but their color changes significantly as the lizards get older.

The green iguana is one of the most common lizard species, whose original range covers the tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere from southern Mexico (Sinaloa and Veracruz) south to central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, east to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean - mainly Grenada , Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent, Utila and Aruba. In addition, in the second half of the 20th century, lizards were introduced to the Grand Cayman Island, Puerto Rico, the American and British Virgin Islands, the continental states of Florida and Texas, and Hawaii.

Habitats - A variety of biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly tropical rainforests, but also semi-moist forests, mangroves and dry, open areas sea ​​coasts. Spends most of his life on trees, usually growing slowly along the banks. flowing rivers. Iguanas are only active during daylight hours.

They spend cool nights on thick branches in the middle and lower tiers of trees, but with sunrise they try to climb higher, where they warm up for a long time - sunbathing increases body temperature, and ultraviolet radiation produces vitamin D, which promotes digestion. Only after a few hours of heating, the reptiles go in search of food down in the crown. In inclement or cool weather, the animal stays on the surface of the earth - thus it better retains internal heat.

An excellent climber, the lizard is able to fall from a height of up to 15 m to the ground and not break (at the same time, when falling, the iguanas try to cling to the foliage with the claws of their hind limbs). The lizard also swims well, while keeping the body completely submerged in water and stretching its legs along the body, and moves with the help of winding movements of the tail.

In Florida, where iguanas live in the coastal zone, they are considered an invasive species that disrupts the ecology of the region. Some of the animals came to the peninsula along with hurricanes that came from Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Another wave of "immigrants" traveled in the holds of ships carrying fruit from South America.

Finally, some animals were thrown into the street or escaped from the owners, or are descendants of such lizards. Iguanas often damage gardens and green spaces. In the wild, they eat leaves. rare tree Cordia globosa and seeds native species caesalpinia - plants that are the main food of the extremely rare butterfly Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri, which is under the protection of the international Red Book. On Marco Island, off the west coast of Florida, iguanas occupy the burrows of an owl, an owl listed as vulnerable in the Red Book (category NT).

In the wild, most iguanas begin breeding at three or four years of age, although some are ready to breed much earlier. The start of the breeding season most often occurs in January or February, but may vary depending on the area of ​​​​habitat: during the seasonal cycle of humidity fluctuations, mating games occur in the first half of the dry period, laying eggs in the second (at this time the soil temperature is quite high, and there is less risk masonry death from water problems), and hatching at the beginning of the rainy season, when the young growth provides an abundance of food for the offspring.

During the mating season, which lasts about two weeks, males choose the place of future mating, mark the territory with secretions from the pores in the lower limbs, and become aggressive towards nearby rivals. In the wild, direct collisions between them are quite rare; in the event of a threat, a weaker lizard in the event of a conflict prefers to leave someone else's territory rather than engage in a fight.

If the opportunity to escape is limited (in particular, when kept in captivity), then animals can bite each other. The demonstrative behavior of the male is frequent shaking of the head, swelling of the throat pouch and changing the color of the body to a brighter, more saturated one. The combination of polygyny with polyandry is typical for the species, that is, often one male simultaneously cares for several females, and the female cohabitates with several males. During courtship, males sniff and lightly bite females on the neck.

Pregnancy lasts about 65 days, at the end of which the females leave their traditional habitats along the banks of the rivers, and along the channels of the streams flowing into them they go upstream to dry sandbanks and dunes. A hole is dug in the sand with a depth of 45 cm to 1 m, where the female lays a large number, 20 to 71, of eggs for three or more days.

The eggs are white, 35-40 mm long, about 15.4 mm in diameter, with a leathery and soft but durable shell. In case of a shortage of suitable places, several lizards can use one pit at the same time. In Panama, cases of sharing the same hole by an iguana and an American crocodile are known, and in Honduras, an iguana and crocodile caiman(Caiman crocodilus). After laying eggs, the lizard carefully fills the hole and leaves the place, no longer caring about the offspring.

Incubation lasts from 90 to 120 days at a temperature environment 30-32°C. Cubs are born usually in May, breaking through the shell with the help of a special fleshy outgrowth on the forehead - caruncles, and getting out to the surface of the earth. In their color and shape, they almost do not differ from adults, however, they have only a slightly pronounced crest.

Young lizards are completely independent, although when they are born they may carry a small yolk sac containing a nutrient mixture for the first one to two weeks. The brood stays together during the first year of life. In the group, males cover females with their bodies from predators - a feature noted only in this species among all other reptiles.

In the wild, iguanas live on average for about 8 years. In captivity, with proper care, the green iguana can live over 20 years.

Unlike most other species of the family, green iguanas are exclusively herbivorous, eating the leaves, shoots, flowers and fruits of about 100 species of tropical plants. So, in Panama, one of the favorite delicacies of the lizard is the Jamaican plum (Spondias mombin).

Other types woody vegetation, the greens and fruits of which in nature most often eat iguanas - incense tree (Bursera simaruba), upright tekoma (Tecoma stans), pointed annona (Annona acuminata), panicled liana (Amphilophium paniculatum), merremia ambellata (Merremia umbellata), etc.

Young lizards often eat the excrement of adult animals in order to make up for their microflora requirements for digesting low-calorie vegetarian food. Animals are not able to chew food, they only cut large enough pieces with their small teeth and immediately swallow them whole. Occasionally, iguanas drink water by immersing part of their head in a pond and swallowing it, or lick drops from greenery.

Sometimes in reference literature there are reports that iguanas in the wild also feed on insects. Another source claims that lizards also eat bird eggs and carrion. However, no published academic study confirms that animals metabolize animal proteins.

Moreover, all publications say that lizards receive all the components necessary for development from feed only plant origin, a protein diet harmful to their health. Insects and other small invertebrates can indeed be in the stomachs of lizards, but experts believe that they are only accidentally swallowed along with plant food: for example, an iguana can swallow an insect sitting on a flower bed along with a flower.

In addition, a hungry lizard can eat an animal for lack of other food. On the other hand, observations at the Miami Seaquarium and Key Biscayne in Florida have documented iguanas eating dead fish. In his book, Philippe De Vosjoly claims that in captivity, without any harm to their health, lizards can eat rodent meat.

In ancient times, the inhabitants of the Maya civilization believed that the world was located inside a giant house, and four iguanas, which the Indians called "Itzam" (Itzam), play the role of its walls. Each iguana symbolized a certain side of the world and had its own special color. In the sky, the tails of the iguanas converged, thus forming a roof. This Mayan house was called "Itzam-na" (Itzam Na, literally "iguana-house").

In the classical period, in some cities, itzamna was revered as a god, personifying not only the iguana, but everything in the world. God was so great and all-encompassing that he was rarely depicted in drawings. At the end of the classical period, the use of the image of the iguana as a deity gradually ceased, however, in the 16th century, the Spanish missionary Diego de Landa observed how the Indians sacrificed a green iguana to the gods.

The Indians of the Moche culture, which developed in the west of Peru, also worshiped many animals, including the green iguana.

Numerous figurines and images of this lizard have survived, including in the Larco Museum in Lima. Also, one of the most common characters in the drawings is a humanoid deity with the head, crest and tail of an iguana. This deity, often in company with another deity in the form of a man with a heavily wrinkled face and round eyes, is one of the key figures in the funeral procession.

scientific classification

• Kingdom: Animals


• Type: Chordates


• Class: Reptiles


• Order: Scaled


• Suborder: Lizards


• Family: Iguana


• Genus: Real iguanas


• Species: Common iguana

AT recent times exotic animals have become popular as pets. Instead of the usual fish, parrots and turtles, moms and dads buy giant spiders, snakes, and lizards for their children. Animal iguana is also included in the list of beloved pets.

Those who have ever seen an iguana in a pet store probably know that she seems to be thinking about something all the time: she will freeze in one position and only occasionally blink her eyes. And how does this animal behave in conditions wildlife? What does it eat and where does it live?

The common iguana, also called the green iguana, is a reptile belonging to the squamous order, the iguana family.

What does a green iguana look like?

Among all members of its family, the common iguana is the largest. The length of her body can reach 1.5 meters, while an adult weighs, on average, 7 kilograms.

The body of the animal has a varied color, despite the name "green". The common iguana can be bluish, lavender, pink, red, bluish, and even black. The iguana is a cold-blooded animal. Therefore, it is very susceptible to temperature changes.

As for the sense organs of this reptile, we can note excellent hearing, acute vision in bright light. In addition to two eyes, the head of the animal is also equipped with a third, located on the top of the head. Thanks to this eye (it looks like a white scale), the iguana catches the approach of the enemy in time and hides. The iguana is an excellent swimmer, a rather flexible tail helps her in this. The tail also serves as a defensive weapon - with it the animal inflicts heavy blows on the enemy.

To say that iguanas are only green is impossible. Their coloration can be very varied.

Where do common iguanas live?

The habitat of this animal is quite wide. The green iguana is found almost throughout Latin America, in some countries of South America (for example, in Brazil), and also inhabits some US states. In addition, this representative of the iguana family got along well in the Caribbean.

iguana lifestyle

The green iguana is an arboreal animal: most of its vital activity takes place precisely on the trees. For his residence he chooses tropical rainforests, tree thickets, but is also found in open areas. sea ​​coasts.

Active during the daytime. When the weather becomes inclement, the iguana will come down to the ground and spend time there, this helps him to better maintain the temperature balance of his body.

What does the tree iguana eat?

The common iguana is an exclusively herbivore. As food, she chooses shoots, flowers and fruits of plants growing in tropical zones.

iguana breeding

The mating season for these reptiles begins in January - February. At this time, males become quite aggressive, in the fight for a female, one can often observe iguana fights, although in ordinary life this animal is quite peaceful.

65 days after mating, the female digs a deep hole and lays 20 to 70 eggs in it. Eggs have a soft but very durable shell. After 3 - 4 months (if the temperature for the entire incubation period was 30 - 32 degrees), small iguana cubs are born. Outwardly, they are very similar to adult iguanas, differing only in size. Cubs are quite independent. But for the first year of their lives, all hatched "babies" try to keep together in order to be able to defend themselves from enemy attacks. In the third - fourth year of their lives, iguana cubs reach full maturity, including sexual maturity.

Scientists have noted that in the natural environment, animals are able to live only up to 8 years, while as pet An iguana can live two and a half times longer.

Iguana(she is also a green bull iguana) - a large lizard that lives mainly on trees and trunks and is awake during the daytime.

Cats, dogs, parrots have become so familiar animals that you won’t surprise anyone with them. Many people think about purchasing an exotic pet - a snake, spider, lizard.

Iguanas have been in high demand for decades s - big lizards originally from South America. They attract attention with their original appearance, calm nature and non-standard behavior. When purchasing such a pet, it should be understood that keeping an exotic animal will require large time and financial costs. The slightest mistake in care can lead to the most unfortunate consequences.

Iguan family: description, types, photos

The iguana family belongs to the suborder of reptiles. This is one of the most large lizards on the planet. Currently, about 38 species are known, which are divided into 8 large groups. They differ in size, color and lifestyle.

1. Marine live only on Galapagos Islands. They are able to spend a lot of time underwater.
2. Desert- the smallest. The maximum length of the body along with the tail is 40 cm.
3. real iguanas- the largest, grow up to 2 m in length. They are divided into 2 types. Ordinary ones are purchased for the maintenance of the house. Meat and eggs are eaten, and handicrafts are made from the skin.
4. Fijian striped is characterized by spotty colors.
5. canofols, like marine iguanas, live only in the Galapagos. They differ in color - a brown body and a yellow head. Listed in the Red Book.
6. Chakwells live in the US and Mexico. Lizards of small size (no more than 1 m) with a soft color.
7. ring-tailed live in the Caribbean. There are 8 varieties.
8. black- the most large group, has 15 species. Lizards clearly show sexual dimorphism.

Ordinary iguanas are acquired as pets. They eat plant foods, have a bright color, phlegmatic and accommodating character.

Green iguana: appearance

Ordinary iguanas are called green, but their colors can be any - red, black, purple. It all depends on the environment. Lizards are different large size- up to 1.7 m in length. Interestingly, almost a third is the tail. It grows up to 42 cm. Weight is variable - from 1.5 to 12 kg. The drier the climate, the lower the body weight.

The iguana has a memorable appearance:

• a long tail, which serves as a serious weapon and helps to swim;
• longitudinal crest from head to tip of tail;
• rough folds on the body and a "bag" on the neck;
• short paws with sharp claws;
• body covered with dense scales.

Ordinary iguanas do not have webbed fingers, so they are not very adapted to life in the water.

Iguanas have a third eye on the top of their head, covered with a translucent film. Scientists still cannot determine its purpose and consider it a vestige inherited from distant ancestors. But according to some studies, this body reacts to changing light regimes during the day.

Animals are very sharp teeth with which they can bite painfully. If a lizard loses a tooth, a new one quickly grows in place of the old one. A sharp comb, claws and a long tail serve as protection from enemies.

Iguanas have a very peculiar metabolism. Excess potassium salts are excreted from the body not through the genitourinary system, but when sneezing. Many lizards have another unique property - the ability to catch smells with their tongue and see ultraviolet rays.

Habitat and lifestyle

In nature, green iguanas prefer to live in humid, warm climates. Their habitat covers the tropical forests of the South and a small part North America, islands in the Caribbean.

They settle in places with dense vegetation, mango thickets or near water bodies.(shores of the sea, rivers, streams). They are active only during daylight hours. During the day, they bask in the sun, maintaining their body temperature. At night they rest on the lower branches of trees. Life span in natural conditions is approximately 8 years old.

Food

Green iguanas are vegetarians. Their body is not able to absorb animal protein. Insects or their larvae can enter the body of a lizard only by chance - along with the leaves and fruits of plants.

Some researchers claim that a hungry or captive iguana can eat a small animal.. It really is. But the constant use of food rich in protein does not lead to anything good.

AT natural environment The lizard feeds on leaves, fruits and flowers of tropical plants:

• Jamaican plum;
• incense tree;
• tecoma;
• merremia.

In total, there are more than 100 plants that the iguana eats.

reproduction

Green iguanas reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age. The mating season begins in January or February. At this time, males become very aggressive. In the struggle for territory and the female, they often enter into a fight, inflicting terrible blows on each other with their tails. Weak animals prefer not to enter into conflict, but immediately flee.

The female bears eggs for a little over two months and lays them in a dry sandy area, leaving her usual habitats. This process sometimes takes several days. In one clutch there can be from 20 to 70 eggs. Incubation period lasts from 3 to 4 months (depending on the ambient temperature).

Cubs immediately after birth are outwardly very similar to adults. They differ in independent behavior, but the first months of life they prefer to stay in a small group. The weight of a newborn iguana is about 12 g, and the body length is from 15 to 25 cm.

natural enemies

The iguana has many enemies in its natural environment- birds of prey, some species of rodents, big snakes. Their prey in most cases are young, old or sick animals.

An adult, due to its color, often goes unnoticed. in dense green foliage rainforest. From snakes or more large lizards often flee. Aggression is shown only by wounded animals. Others prefer not to fight.

iguana and man

The relationship between iguanas and humans goes back hundreds of years. The ancient tribes of South America worshiped large lizards, they were deified and sometimes sacrificed. This cult gradually disappeared with the advent of the conquistadors.

In Mexico and some other countries, meat is used for cooking.. The most famous dishes:

• hot guisado;
• birria;
• stew with coconut.

Recently, iguanas have become very popular pets. However, their sale is controlled to avoid extinction of the species.

To keep a reptile house you need to purchase a terrarium. It should be spacious and well ventilated. As the lizard grows, so should its size.

Air temperature is of great importance. Iguanas are cold-blooded animals, so the climate regime greatly affects their health. The terrarium needs to be equipped with heaters. Optimum temperature air - from 26 to 35˚С.

Complete with a heater, you must definitely purchase an ultraviolet lamp.. Basking under its rays, the pet will receive the necessary amount of vitamin D. This element promotes digestion and absorption of calcium. Insufficient lighting leads to the development of bone diseases and death of the animal.

In addition, the terrarium must be equipped with a small pool with warm water, thick tree branches. There it will be easier for the lizard to bask under the lamp. All accessories can be bought at a pet store or from a breeder.

What to feed

In its natural environment, the common iguana feeds exclusively on plant food. At home, it is recommended to feed her the same food. Your pet will benefit from:

• greens;
• asparagus;
• dandelions;
• bean and bean pods;
• vegetables and fruits.

Some argue that iguanas living in captivity enjoy eating meat and insects. The lizard can eat these foods. But a protein-rich diet often causes kidney failure. and subsequent death of the animal.

Before buying a green iguana, it is worth considering whether there is enough time and patience to care for an expensive and exotic pet.