Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class reptile
Order squamata
Family Iguanidae
Iguanas are reptiles native to the Americas. Sometimes confused with chameleons (and vice versa), this fact is unrealistic, since these animals belong to different families: chameleons are called eleonids and iguanas, iguanas.
Iguanas are distributed in the genera Amblyrhynchus, Brachylophus, Conolophus, Ctenosaura, Cyclura, Dipsosaurus, Iguana and Sauromalus. In our country, there is only one species: the green iguana (iguana iguana), found in the north, northeast and wetlands. Such a representative is one of the most widely found captive-bred reptiles in the world.
At birth, these animals are green, quite intense. As adults, their color becomes darker, usually with black or gray streaks. At that time, they can reach 10 kilos, and 180 centimeters in length; 2/3 of this value refers to its tail.
The head presents with numerous scales, usually asymmetrical and small in size. From the nape to the tail there is a crest; and in the throat, a dilating sac. The nails are strong and pointed, and are found on each of the five toes found on the paws.
With diurnal habits, they usually live in the canopy of trees, feeding predominantly on vegetables and, in some cases, small invertebrates. As for reproduction, they release about 30 eggs per posture, in holes built in the ground, later covered by leaves. Life expectancy is fifteen years.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), ten are the critically endangered species, six are endangered, and eight are vulnerable.
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By Mariana Araguaia
Biologist, specialist in Environmental Education
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
ARAGUAIA, Mariana. "Iguana (Family Iguanidae)"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/animais/iguana.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
