Black iguana | Facts & Information

# Black Iguana | Facts & Information

Black Iguana | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Black Iguana

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.

Black Iguana

The Black Iguana is a fascinating reptile that can be found in the warm parts of Central and South America. This species is also known as Iguana iguana and belongs to the Iguanidae family. The Black Iguana is one of the largest species of iguanas, reaching a length of up to 1.5 meters and a weight of up to 6 kilograms. These reptiles are diurnal and arboreal animals, primarily living in trees.

The appearance of the Black Iguana is impressive and easy to recognize. It has scaly skin, covered with tough and rough scales of dark green or brown color. Along its back, the Black Iguana has strong crests that extend from the head to the posterior part, giving it a characteristic look. Additionally, these reptiles have a long and sturdy tail, used for balancing and as a defense tool. Since they live in trees, the Black Iguanas have strong and large claws, adapted for gripping branches and agile movement in their natural environment.

A distinctive feature of the Black Iguana is its submandibular area, also known as the extensible throat. The Black Iguana can inflate this region when it feels threatened or during the mating period. This is a way for them to display their muscles and body size, attempting to intimidate potential rivals or predators. Additionally, the Black Iguana has a supraorbital crest, which develops as the male reaches sexual maturity, giving it a more intimidating look.

One of the remarkable characteristics of the Black Iguana is its ability to change colors. It can adjust its body temperature by exposing or hiding its colors. For example, when the iguana is exposed to the sun, it can close its scales, allowing UV rays to penetrate the skin and activate vitamin D production. The Black Iguana can be observed in different color states, ranging from intense green to dark brown or even blackish.

Black iguanas are herbivores and primarily feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits. They are adapted to tree life and have a long and narrow tongue that they use to reach and pluck leaves and fruits from trees. Besides their basic diet, Black Iguanas can also consume small insects or other small animals.

The reproduction of the Black Iguana is an interesting process. Males develop throat fans and become extremely aggressive during the mating season, fighting for territorial control and females. Mating takes place in water, and females lay eggs in sand or soft soil, which they bury to ensure protection from predators. After incubation, the hatchlings emerge and will fend for themselves in their natural environment.

The Black Iguana is adapted to tree life and spends most of its time suspended in the branches. Its natural habitat encompasses a wide range of ecosystems, from moist and wet tropical forests to dry desert areas. However, Black Iguanas face habitat loss and excessive hunting, leading to a decline in their populations in many areas.

In conclusion, the Black Iguana is a fascinating reptile that lives in the warm parts of Central and South America. These iguanas are adapted to tree life and have remarkable features, such as the ability to change colors and the extensible throat. However, Black Iguanas face issues such as habitat loss and excessive hunting, which is why they are considered an endangered species.

890

Animals

Species

Languages

Facts

Origin

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 !