# Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana (*Enyalioides heterolepis*) Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana is a small, colorful lizard that loves to climb trees. It has a unique look with bright green and blue scales that help it blend into the leaves. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Enyalioides_heterolepis_165817549.jpg&width=800) Photo: Philipp Hoenle, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Enyalioides_heterolepis_165817549.jpg) ## Appearance The Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana is a small, stocky lizard, typically brown or grey, often with subtle darker bands or spots. It has a prominent head and textured, spiky scales, helping it blend into forest leaf litter and bark. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Family:** Hoplocercidae - **Genus:** Enyalioides ## Interesting facts - Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana is mostly active during the day, searching for food under sunny forest canopies. - Instead of basking in open sun, they often warm up by absorbing heat from rocks or branches. - Its scientific name, 'heterolepis', means "different scales", referring to its varied skin textures! - This tiny lizard can inflate its throat and gape wide to make itself look bigger and scarier! ## Special abilities - **Chameleon Camouflage:** Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana can subtly change its skin color to blend perfectly with its surroundings, making it nearly invisible to predators. - **Tree-scaling Grip:** Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana has strong claws and agile movements that help them rapidly climb trees and navigate dense forest undergrowth with ease. - **Tail Breakaway:** Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana can detach its tail when caught by a predator, allowing it to escape while the wiggling tail distracts the attacker. - **Quick-Burst Dash:** Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana can dart away with surprising speed for short distances, helping them escape danger or snatch up fast-moving prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.04 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding This omnivore enjoys a varied menu of tiny forest creatures and tasty plant bits. - **Primary Foods:** crickets, beetles, ants, small fruits, flower petals, tender leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — A key protein source in their forest diet. - **Eaten by:** Collared Forest-Falcon (*Micrastur semitorquatus*) — A sharp-eyed bird of prey that hunts forest lizards. - **Shelter:** White Fig (*Ficus insipida*) — Often found hiding among the roots or on branches of fig trees. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [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. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low If you see an iguana, watch quietly from a distance so you don't scare it away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana? 15-20 cm ### How much does Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana weigh? 0.015-0.04 kg ### How long does Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana move? 8 km/h ### What does Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana eat? This omnivore enjoys a varied menu of tiny forest creatures and tasty plant bits. ### Where is Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana usually found? Forests ### How does Bocourt's Dwarf 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: [Bocourt's Dwarf Iguana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bocourts-dwarf-iguana)