# Fiji Crested Iguana (*brachylophus vitiensis*) The Fiji Crested Iguana is a colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun! With its cool crest on its head, it looks like a little dinosaur from the past! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Tropical forests and coastal areas of Fiji. - **Also known as:** Crested Iguana, Fiji Iguana, Viti Iguana ![Fiji Crested Iguana](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Fiji_Crested_Iguana.jpg&width=800) Photo: Michael Howard from Australia, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fiji_Crested_Iguana.jpg) ## Appearance The Fiji Crested Iguana is bright green with three narrow, cream-colored bands across its body. Males have a distinctive crest of spines along their back. It can also display a unique yellow snout. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Iguanidae - **Genus:** Brachylophus ## Interesting facts - Babies hatch with perfect climbing skills, ready for trees. - Males turn bright yellow on their head during mating season! - These iguanas are one of the rarest reptiles in the world! - They have a light-sensing "third eye" on top of their head! ## Special abilities - **Vivid Color Changer:** Fiji Crested Iguana can quickly shift its skin color because this helps them hide from predators or show if they are stressed. - **Arboreal Acrobat:** Fiji Crested Iguana has strong claws and a long tail that help them expertly climb and balance high in the trees. - **Slow-Hatch Surprise:** Fiji Crested Iguana eggs incubate for over 7 months, which means the babies are very developed when they hatch! ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 200-250 days ## Diet & Feeding These vibrant green lizards enjoy a vegetarian feast of leaves, flowers, and ripe fruits from the tropical forest. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Flowers, Fruits, Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Feral Cat (*Felis catus*) — Preys on iguana hatchlings and juveniles. - **Eaten by:** [Black Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-rat) (*Rattus rattus*) — Raids iguana nests, eating eggs and young. - **Eats:** Dredge's Tree (*Vavaea amicorum*) — The iguana consumes its leaves and flowers. - **Eaten by:** Pacific Boa (*Candoia bibroni*) — A native snake that preys on iguanas. ## 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. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Fiji Crested 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 Fiji Crested Iguana? 60-80 cm ### How much does Fiji Crested Iguana weigh? 0.1-0.2 kg ### How long does Fiji Crested Iguana live? 10-25 years ### How fast can Fiji Crested Iguana move? 5 km/h ### What does Fiji Crested Iguana eat? These vibrant green lizards enjoy a vegetarian feast of leaves, flowers, and ripe fruits from the tropical forest. ### Where is Fiji Crested Iguana usually found? Tropical forests and coastal areas of Fiji. ### How does Fiji Crested 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: [Fiji Crested Iguana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fiji-crested-iguana)