Iguana

__Iguana__



 * = Domain ||=  ||
 * = Kingdom ||= Animalia ||
 * = Phylum ||= Chordata ||
 * = Class ||= Sauropsida ||
 * = Order ||= Squamata ||
 * = Family ||= Iguanidae ||
 * = Genus ||= Iguana ||
 * = Species ||= Lesser Antillean Iguana ||

==__Iguana__==



The Lesser Antillean iguana is classified as endangered sprcies. Iguana is a herbivor and they are normally found in the tropical areas of Central America and the Carribean. The male Lesser Antillean Iguanas boast enlarge scales running the length of the back and enlarged spikes on the dewlap. Dominant males turn from green to dark grey, and when reproductively active will flush pink in the jowls and become pale-blue in the scales on the sides of the head. Females are more strikingly coloured, with a uniformly bright green body, pale head and brown tail. Hatchlings and juveniles are also bright green, but have white flashes from the jaw to the shoulder and three vertical white bars on the sides of the body. They also have brown flashes which darken when the individual is stressed. With age, the white flashes and the ability to change colour are lost, and the tail turns brown, beginning at the tip and working up to the base. This Lesser Antillean iguana lives in tropical climates. They need lihgt to keep themselves warm. Iguanas also live in this environment so that they could camouflage with their surroundings. They need a basking spot temperature of around 90 degrees with a drop to around 75 degrees for the other area. This is called a temperature gradient and is important in case the Iguana is too hot and needs to move to a cooler spot.

In this kind of environment their are many biotic factors. In this environment there are also snakes, monkeys, birds such as Toucans, and frogs. There are plants that are also present in this environment such as banana trees, coconut trees, palm tress, roses, and also orchids.



Iguanas need light inorder to be warm. They come out in the middle of the day to absorb sunlight. They climb up a rock or trees to recieve direct sunlight. They stay under the sun long enough to capture all the sunlight they need. If they stay long enough under the sun they could get dehydrated.



__Iguana__
Ideal daytime temperature for green iguanas should range between 85 and 90 degrees. All iguanas require ultraviolet lighting to maintain good health. Ultraviolet lighting is recommended for 12-14 hours per day. Green iguanas are mainly vegetarian. These iguanas mainly eat dark, leafy greens (mustard, collard, radish, and turnip greens or tops, kale, cabbage, dandelion leaves-stems-flowers, legumes, mulberry and grape leaves, timothy hay, soaked alfalfa pellets, thawed frozen mixed vegetables (peas, lima beans, carrots, green beans), peas in the pod, cauliflower, soy bean sprouts, radishes, summer and winter squashes, grapes, apples, oranges, pear, peaches, plums, nectarines, dates, all types of melons, strawberries, raspberries, bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes. The adult male iguanas can be extremely aggressive.

The iguana lives ina environment where theres alot of mammals. Green iguanas are an essential part of their native habitat, as are all organisms. As juveniles, they make a tasty meal for many predators. As adults, their fruit-feeding activities may help spread seeds in the habitat. Adult iguanas are not at risk from many predators, as they can defend themselves with sharp teeth and strong tails. If they make it to adulthood, they can be expected to live for 10-15+ years.
 * Species Interaction**


 * Food Web**

These iguanas are active in daytime and they sleep at night. They hunt for their food during the day. They mostly spend their time on trees so they tend to eat plants. They also hunt for snakes and hawks.



All species of iguanas lay eggs. After mating with a male iguana, a female digs a nest and lays up to 70 eggs in it. She buries the eggs. The young hatch after about 10 - 14 weeks and dig their way to the surface. Baby iguanas grow slowly. They become adults and able to mate when they are 2 years old. Some iguanas can live for 30 years. After mating females lay their eggs during the second half of the dry season. The female iguana carries her eggs for two months. Female iguanas usually build nests widely separated from one another in areas with sandy soil. Females use moderately straight terrestrial paths to move from their home site to the nest. After seven days spent at the nest site, nearly the identical path is used to travel back to the home site. Females may migrate as far as 1.8 miles (3 km) to find a suitable nesting site.
 * Reproduction**

__**Features Of a Iguana**__ Green iguanas are 6.5 feet tall, weighing 10-15 lbs. The average life spam of a iguana in the wild is 20 years. Iguanas can also stay underwater for as long as 28 minutes. Iguanas can fall from a 40 feet tree on a solid ground without getting hurt. These iguanas dont see there mother. After the mom has done lying her eggs underground, she will leave and never come back. The iguanas have to dig there way out and survive on their own. If a iguanas tail is cut off, they can grow a new one. And because of their weak tail vertebrae, often iguanas break their tail to escape after getting caught. The tail makes up at least half the body length of an iguana.