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Welcome to Iguana Expert Facts About Iguanas Have you ever wondered about keeping iguanas? If you are interested in taking care of an iguana, you'd better take into account these vital facts about iguanas. The term IGUANA is usually used to refer to all of the members of the lizard family known as the Iguanidae. As is generally known, iguanas possess powerful but short limbs with sharp claws. These claws are utilized for digging and climbing. And yes, they do love to climb and that is why a set of branches for climbing must be set up in their tanks. Their strong tails are used for defense and they whip them in the air when a predator corners them. Their tails are also used for swimming. The dewlap is a huge flap of skin on the sides of the body in the throat area of the male iguana and is used to either intimidate a predator or to impress a female iguana. The dewlap also helps regulate their body temperature. Furthermore, iguanas also contain a crest of very soft spikes in a line up the middle part of their backs and necks. Male iguanas have longer spikes than female iguanas. Male iguanas have bigger heads and brighter body colors than females. The body of the male iguana is even more distinctive during the breeding season. Both male and female iguanas contain twelve to thirteen pores underneath the sides of their thighs. These pores secrete the waxy substance they use when marking their territories and identifying themselves. When male iguanas mature, their femoral pores develop some outward projections which they use during copulation to grasp the female iguana.  The skin of the iguana is covered with very minute scales and even though they are unable to change their skin colors like chameleons, when they are exposed to light, some parts of their skin become darker in color. Young iguanas are pale green with black ringed tails. As they mature, they turn more earthly colored and especially their bodies and tails are usually darker. In their natural habitats, iguanas appear to always be aware of the danger around them. They can always be spotted running and hiding. They make full use of their keen vision and high sense of hearing and smell so that they can better ensure their own survival. They may appear to be clumsy at times but iguanas are great swimmers and tree climbers. They usually bask in the morning sun atop trees and they can jump into the water any time they sense danger. Mating for iguanas occurs in the months of January and February and then when egg-laying time comes around, the female iguana digs in the soil or sand to deposit from 25 to 40 eggs. After two weeks, the hatchlings are ready to come out into the world. Iguanas can be great pets provided that you know how to take care of them. They require a high level of maintenance, but everything will pay off if you just learn how to care for your pet properly. |
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