# Spiny-tailed Iguana (*Ctenosaura pectinata*) The Spiny-tailed Iguana is known for its spiky tail and strong body. It loves to bask in the sun. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Tropical forests and scrublands. - **Also known as:** Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguana ![Spiny-tailed Iguana](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425832/objects/5621.jpg) ## Appearance The Spiny-tailed Iguana is a robust lizard, typically gray to brownish-black, often with faint dark bands and yellowish or orange tints, especially on males. It has a distinctive long, keeled tail covered in rings of sharp spines that give it its name. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Iguanidae - **Genus:** Ctenosaura ## Interesting facts - Their sharp claws help them climb trees and walls easily. - These lizards can stay underwater for over 30 minutes! - They like to bask on warm rocks to heat up their bodies. - Young iguanas are often bright green to blend with leaves. ## Special abilities - **Spiny Shield Tail:** Spiny-tailed Iguana has a spiny, keeled tail that helps them defend against predators by lashing it like a whip. - **Burrow Master:** Spiny-tailed Iguana can dig complex burrows that helps them hide from danger and escape extreme temperatures. - **Fast Getaway:** Spiny-tailed Iguana can run up to 35 km/h because of strong legs, which helps them quickly escape predators. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 30-130 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 10-30 - **Incubation:** 90-100 days ## Diet & Feeding These iguanas enjoy a mix of plants and insects, changing their menu as they grow up! - **Age differences:** Young iguanas eat more insects and spiders, while adults become mostly herbivorous. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, flowers, fruits, berries, insects, small vertebrates - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Adults and juveniles are hunted from above. - **Eaten by:** Boa Constrictor (*Boa imperator*) — Large snakes prey on iguanas of various sizes. - **Eats:** [Prickly Pear Cactus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prickly-pear-cactus) (*Opuntia ficus-indica*) — They eat the fruits and pads of this common plant. - **Eats:** [Gray Bird Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-bird-grasshopper) (*Schistocerca nitens*) — Young iguanas often feed on these abundant insects. ## 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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface. - [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover. - [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) - [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 Spiny-tailed 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 Spiny-tailed Iguana? 30-130 cm ### How much does Spiny-tailed Iguana weigh? 0.5-2 kg ### How long does Spiny-tailed Iguana live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Spiny-tailed Iguana move? 35 km/h ### What does Spiny-tailed Iguana eat? These iguanas enjoy a mix of plants and insects, changing their menu as they grow up! ### Where is Spiny-tailed Iguana usually found? Tropical forests and scrublands. ### How does Spiny-tailed 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: [Spiny-tailed Iguana: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spiny-tailed-iguana)