# Typical Iguanas (*Iguana*) Iguanas are large, green reptiles that love to bask in the sun. They have long tails and can climb trees very well, making them great at hiding from predators. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Typical Iguanas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cach_nuoi_rong_nam_my.jpg&width=800) Photo: Wuanle, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cach_nuoi_rong_nam_my.jpg) ## Appearance The Typical Iguanas has a vibrant green body, a prominent dewlap under its chin, and a row of spiky scales along its back. Its long tail often features dark bands and is visually distinct from most other lizards due to its size and crest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Iguanidae - **Genus:** Iguana ## Interesting facts - Iguanas communicate using head bobs and by extending their throat dewlap! - Iguanas swallow small stones to help grind tough plants in their stomach! - Some iguanas can hold their breath underwater for an amazing 30 minutes! - They can fall from 15 meters high without injury, thanks to their tough bodies! ## Special abilities - **Tail Detachment Escape:** Typical Iguanas can drop their tail if caught, which helps them escape from predators and grow a new one later. - **Third Eye Sensor:** Typical Iguanas have a 'third eye' on their head that senses light changes, helping them detect predators from above. - **Salt Sneezers:** Typical Iguanas can sneeze out excess salt from their bodies, which helps them regulate their internal water balance. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-180 cm - **Weight:** 4-8 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 20-70 - **Incubation:** 65-115 days - **Maximum Depth:** 10 m ## Diet & Feeding They mostly munch on leaves, flowers, and fruits, helping to spread seeds. - **Age differences:** Young iguanas may occasionally eat insects, but adult iguanas are strictly herbivorous. - **Primary Foods:** leaves, flowers, fruits, buds, shoots, young plant matter - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Boa Constrictor (*Boa constrictor*) — Large snakes prey on iguanas and their eggs. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Predatory birds snatch young iguanas from trees. - **Eats:** Mexican Strangler Fig (*Ficus obtusifolia*) — Iguanas feed on the leaves and fruits of various fig species. ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch iguanas from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Typical Iguanas? 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 Typical Iguanas? 150-180 cm ### How much does Typical Iguanas weigh? 4-8 kg ### How long does Typical Iguanas live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Typical Iguanas move? 12 km/h ### What does Typical Iguanas eat? They mostly munch on leaves, flowers, and fruits, helping to spread seeds. ### How fast can Typical Iguanas swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Typical Iguanas usually found? Forests ## 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: [Typical Iguanas: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/typical-iguanas)