This article is about the genus. For the best known species, see Green iguana.

For the family of related

lizards, see Iguanidae.

For other uses, see Iguana (disambiguation).

Iguana

A green iguana (Iguana iguana)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Iguania

Family: Iguanidae

Genus: Iguana
Laurenti, 1768

Species

 Lesser Antillean iguana, I.

delicatissima

 Green iguana, I. iguana

Synonyms
  Hypsilophus Wagler, 1830

A male green iguana

Iguana (/ɪˈɡwɑːnə/,[1][2] Spanish: [iˈɣwana]) is a genus of herbivorous lizards that are native to tropical
areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in
1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens
Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena. Two species are included in the
genus Iguana: the green iguana, which is widespread throughout its range and a popular pet, and
the Lesser Antillean iguana, which is native to the Lesser Antilles and endangered due to habitat
destruction, introduced feral predators, hunting, and hybridization with introduced green iguanas.

The word "iguana" is derived from the original Taino name for the species, iwana.[3] In addition to the
two species in the genus Iguana, several other related genera in the same family have common names
of the species including the word "iguana".

Contents

 1Anatomy and physiology

o 1.1Parietal eye

o 1.2Skull morphology and diet

o 1.3Reproduction

o 1.4Mating/courtship

 2Phylogeny

o 2.1Extant species
  3Images

 4References

 5Further reading

Anatomy and physiology[edit]

Iguanas can range from 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 ft) in length, including their tail. The two species
of lizard within the genus Iguana possess a dewlap and a row of elongated scales running from the
midline of their necks down to their tails. Iguanas have varying types of scales covering different areas
of their body, for example, there are some large round tuberculate scales scattered around the lateral
region of the neck among smaller, overlapping scales.[4] The scales on the dorsal trunk of their body
are also thicker and more tightly packed than those on the ventral side.[4] These scales may be a
variety of colors and are not always visible from close distances. They have a large round scale on
their cheeks known as a sub-tympanic shield.[5]

Iguanas have keen vision and can see shapes, shadows, colors, and movement at long distances. Their
visual acuity enables them to navigate through crowded forests and to locate food. They employ
visual signals to communicate with other members of the same species.[5]

The tympanum, the iguana's eardrum, is located above the sub-tympanic shield (or "ear shield")
behind each eye. Iguanas are often hard to spot, as they tend to blend into their surroundings and
their coloration enables them to hide from larger predators.[5]

Like most reptiles, an iguana has a three-chambered heart with two atria, one ventricle, and two
aortae with a systemic circulation.[6] The muscles of an iguana are very light in color, this is due to the
high proportion of fast glycolytic muscle fibers. These fibers are not very vascularized and are low
in myoglobin, giving them their pale look. This high density of fast glycolytic muscle fibers allows
iguanas to move very quickly for a short period of time, which facilitates short bursts of movement
but is inefficient for long duration movement, since cellular respiration in fast glycolytic muscle fibers
is anaerobic.

Parietal eye[edit]

Several species of lizard, including the iguana, have a pale scale towards the back of their head
marking the parietal eye. This organ is photosensitive to changes in illumination and sends signals to
the pineal gland signaling the change between day and night. A photopigment commonly found in
the lamprey, known as parapinopsin, is also found in the iguana and is photosensitive to UV light and
aids in the signaling between day and night.[7]

Skull morphology and diet[edit]

Iguanas have an exclusively herbivorous diet,[8] as illustrated above by a green iguana eating
a mango in Venezuela

Iguanas have developed an herbivorous lifestyle, foraging exclusively on vegetation and foliage.[8] In
order to acquire, process and digest plant matter, herbivorous lizards must have a higher bite force
relative to their size in comparison to carnivorous or omnivorous reptiles. The skull of the iguana has
undergone modifications resulting in a strong bite force and efficient processing of vegetation,
according to one study.[9]

In order to accomplish this biomechanically, herbivorous lizards (such as the iguana) have taller and
wider skulls, shorter snouts, and larger bodies relative to carnivorous and omnivorous
reptiles.[9] Increasing the robusticity of the skull allows for increased muscle presence and increases
the ability of the skull to withstand stronger forces.[10]

Green iguana skull and teeth. The teeth of the green iguana sit on the surface of the jawbone, known
as acrodontal placement.[11]

Furthermore, the teeth of the iguana are acrodontal, meaning that their teeth sit on top of the surface
of the jaw bone[11] and project upwards. The teeth themselves are small and serrated - designed to
grasp and shear food.[12]

Reproduction[edit]

Male iguanas, like other male examples of Squamata, have two hemipenes. During copulation one
hemipene will be inserted into the female's cloacal vent. Females can store sperm from previous
mates for several years to continue to fertilize her eggs in case she finds no male within her territory
when she is ready to lay again.[citation needed]

Mating/courtship[edit]

Iguanas tend to follow a promiscuous or polygynadrous mating style during the dry season. Mating
during the dry season ensures that their offspring will hatch during the wet or rainy season when food
will be more plentiful. Females control large territories where they make several nests. Males
compete amongst each other for the females in an area and mark their won territory with
a pheromone secreted from the femoral pores on the dorsal side of their hind limbs. Male behavior
during sexual competition involves head bobbing, extending and retracting their dewlap, nuzzling and
biting the necks of females, and on occasion, changing color. Once a female chooses a male, he will
straddle the female and hold her in place by biting onto her shoulder, which sometimes leaves scars
on females. After copulation, eggs are laid within several nests and allowed to incubate. This low level
of parental intervention with their offspring makes iguanas an example of r-
strategy reproduction.[citation needed]

Phylogeny[edit]

A phylogeny based on nuclear protein-coding genes, reviewed by Vidal and Hedges (2009) suggested
that the subclade Iguania is in a group with snakes and anguimorphs (lizards). These groups share an
oral gland capable of secreting toxins (a derived