Range: Central and South America

Habitat: Dense Tropical Forests to arid grasslands, the habitat of the Green Iguana varies widely based on the geographical location of the species.

Natural Diet: Herbivores 

Diet at Rain Forest: Fresh fruits and vegetables supplemented with calcium and other vitamin powders.

Size: Males up to 6' in length, females considerably smaller. Species living in arid regions tend to be smaller than the more tropical species. 

RainForest Facts:  The common green Iguana is one of the few animal on earth who's latin name and common name are the same,  Iguana iguana

One of the most frequently kept of all pet lizards.  Click Here for Pet Care Information

The Green Iguana is now farmed in El Salvador, as well as other central and south American countries,  to provide millions of babies to the pet trade in the United States as well as other nations.  Female Green Iguanas produce approximately 12-18 eggs per clutch and are capable of

producing more than one clutch of eggs per year.  The primary reason for such a high rate of reproduction is natural predation by many animals.  The Green Iguana winds up on the dinner menu for everything from predatory birds, to Boa Constrictors and even Man! 

The large natural range of the common green Iguana causes much coloration and size differences in this species.  The closer to an arid region one gets the lighter in color the Iguanas tend to be.   Iguanas found in the dense Amazon basin tend to be larger, and greener in color than their counterparts to the north.

Status in Wild: Varies greatly by region.  The green iguana is still sold as a food item for human consumption in many countries. The pressure to supply the human food markets has had a serious negative impact on wild populations. The Green Iguana has been introduced into South Florida as well as several Caribbean islands that the Iguana had not previously inhabited.

IGUANA SKULL