Origin
The black Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) is part of the order Squamata and the family iguanidae. It is the largest species of the genus Ctenosaura and was declared in the Guinness Book of records as the fastest lizard in the world, with a speed of 34.9 km/ h.
It is very common in Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras) and Mexico.
Its biotope consists of tropical deciduous forests, tropical savannahs, pastures. It can be seen climbing as a skilled climber concrete walls, ruins of buildings, rocky slopes, or branches of large trees.
It can also be found under the following foreign names: black spiny-tailed iguana, black iguana or black Ctenosaurus.
Black iguana feed
The black iguana is a herbivorous lizard, therefore it feeds mainly on leaves, flowers and fruits, less often it has a carnivorous diet consisting of small animals (bats, rodents, small birds, frogs), various insects and eggs.
She prefers areas with increased humidity levels.
To cleanse his body of dirt and parasites, he gets used to rubbing against the bark of the tree or going into puddles.
Black Iguana features
It is a very large, voluminous animal, the male can reach 1.5 m in length, and the female about 1 m. on the dorsal side the male has prominent ridges, and the goiter is relatively small. The ringed tail has a series of curved and pointed spines.
The color of the skin can vary from light gray to dark gray with black spots and Stripes. Chickens have an olive-green or tan-green coloration, which as they grow changes to gray.
At night they sleep on the branches of trees.
It is an aggressive and nervous species, very fast, so it is recommended to a breeder with a lot of experience. It can be bought at pet stores and is often stressed due to transportation and accommodation. It must be kept in an aquarium of at least 26 l, arranged in such a way as to imitate the natural environment from which it comes.
Caring for this iguana is quite difficult, it also involves taming it, which is done only at the expense of gaining trust, which will require a lot of time. Also, the iguana's reluctance towards its owner may be due to its past and age. A mature specimen is easier to tame, but the Cubs are very unpredictable and change their behavior over time until adulthood.
However, the black iguana is a gorgeous animal, which through attention, frequent and gentle manuiri, can become an excellent pet. It is recommended for experienced breeders !
Black Iguana breeding
It reaches maturity after three or four years of life.
After mating, the female is the one who looks for a nest, in which she lays up to 30 eggs.
After three or four months the chicks emerge that in approx. seven days manage to leave the nest.
They have an arboreal terrestrial behavior and live in colonies of males.
He lives 30 to 35 years.
