# Blue Iguana (*Cyclura lewisi*) The Blue Iguana is a large, beautiful lizard with bright blue skin! It loves to bask in the sun on rocky shores. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Islands and coastal areas - **Also known as:** Cayman Blue Iguana, Grand Cayman Blue Iguana ![Blue Iguana](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424458/objects/5712.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue Iguana has a stout body with a distinctive spiny crest running down its back. Males display brilliant turquoise-blue skin, especially during breeding season, while females are typically duller grey-blue. They possess powerful limbs and large, bright eyes, making them visually striking. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Iguanidae - **Genus:** Cyclura ## Interesting facts - Baby blue iguanas are actually brown, not blue! - Blue iguanas can live longer than most cats and dogs. - They are only found wild on the island of Grand Cayman! - They communicate with each other by head-bobbing messages. ## Special abilities - **Burrow Architect:** Blue Iguana can dig extensive underground tunnels that help them escape predators and find shelter from extreme weather. - **Solar Charger:** Blue Iguana has dark skin pigmentation that helps them absorb heat quickly from the sun and warm up their cold-blooded bodies. - **Tail Weapon:** Blue Iguana can use its long, muscular tail as a powerful whip to defend itself against potential threats. - **Sharp Eyes:** Blue Iguana has excellent eyesight that helps them spot delicious plants and potential dangers from a distance. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 100-150 cm - **Weight:** 4-14 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-35 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-21 - **Incubation:** 65-100 days ## Diet & Feeding This plant-eating lizard munches on a variety of leaves, fruits, and flowers from the Cayman Islands. - **Age differences:** Juveniles may opportunistically eat insects and larvae for extra protein. - **Primary Foods:** Thatch Palm leaves, Strangler Fig fruits, Hairy Spurge leaves, Erect Prickly Pear cactus pads, Sea Grape leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Feral Cat (*Felis catus*) — Hunts young iguanas and eggs - **Eaten by:** [Black Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Preys on eggs and hatchlings - **Eats:** Thatch Palm (*Thrinax radiata*) — An important food source - **Eats:** Strangler Fig (*Ficus aurea*) — Consumes its leaves and fruits - **Eats:** [Hairy Spurge](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-spurge) (*Chamaesyce canescens*) — Eats its leaves ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue Iguana? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Blue Iguana? 100-150 cm ### How much does Blue Iguana weigh? 4-14 kg ### How long does Blue Iguana live? 25-35 years ### How fast can Blue Iguana move? 20 km/h ### What does Blue Iguana eat? This plant-eating lizard munches on a variety of leaves, fruits, and flowers from the Cayman Islands. ### Where is Blue Iguana usually found? Islands and coastal areas ### How does Blue Iguana hunt? Foraging ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Blue Iguana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-iguana)