The Physical Appearance of the Green Iguana

Fully-grown green iguanas typically reach between four and six feet in length, but there are some that extend up to seven feet. The tail makes up almost half of the entire length. Despite their being green, there is also a dominant black stripe coloring on their bodies. So even though they are called green iguanas they are not just a monochromatic green color, but have shades running from very bright green to grayish and dull green. The skin of the green iguana is mostly rough because of the pointy scales along the animal's back. And the skin of the baby green iguana is also tough - it is able to avoid scratches and cuts, and is also water-resistant. The pigmentation on the skin of the baby green iguana helps as camouflage especially when there are predators in the area. But even if a predator detects them, baby green iguanas are able to swiftly jump from the trees and dive directly into the water where they are excellent swimmers.

Green iguanas are equipped with claws and long fingers so that they can easily grasp and climb and they also have keen senses of hearing, sight and smell. One of their defense mechanisms is their tail which is obviously sharp and is snapped high into the air when danger is sensed. And if a predator gets the chance to grab the tail, it detaches, but grows again. Apart from these excellent adaptations, baby green iguanas are also strong, so if they do fall to the ground from about 40 or 50 feet, they still manage to remain unhurt.

Male green iguanas have what is known as a dewlap. This is the special flap on their skins which they use to impress female green iguanas or to intimidate oncoming predators. With these dewlaps, they make themselves appear bigger. Another excellent characteristic of green iguanas is that they are able to keep fat under their necks and jaws for quite a time, especially when there is not much food at hand.

The Habitat of the Green Iguana

Baby green iguanas typically grow in the lower altitude tropical rainforest areas with accessible water resources such as streams and rivers. Most of their formative years are spent in the forest top at about forty to fifty feet above ground level.