Iguana

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This article is about the genus. For the best known species, see Green iguana. For the
family of related lizards, see Iguanidae.
For other uses, see Iguana (disambiguation).

Iguana

A green iguana (Iguana iguana)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Iguania

Family: Iguanidae

Genus: Iguana
Laurenti, 1768
 Species

 Lesser Antillean
iguana, I. delicatissima
 Green iguana, I. iguana
 Saban black iguana, I.
melanoderma

Synonyms

 Hypsilophus Wagler, 1830

A male green iguana

Iguana (/ɪˈɡwɑːnə/,[1][2] Spanish: [iˈɣwana]) is a genus of herbivorous lizards that are native

to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The
genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in
his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum
Experimentis circa Venena. Three species are included in the genus Iguana: the green
iguana, which is widespread throughout its range and a popular pet, the Lesser
Antillean iguana, which is native to the Lesser Antilles, and the Saban black iguana[3],
which is native to the Caribbean islands of Saba and Montserrat. The latter two species
are endangered due to habitat destruction, introduced feral predators, hunting, and
hybridization with introduced green iguanas.
The word "iguana" is derived from the original Taino name for the species, iwana.[4] In
addition to the two species in the genus Iguana, several other related genera in the
same family have common names of the species including the word "iguana".
 Contents

 1Anatomy and physiology

o 1.1Parietal eye
o 1.2Skull morphology and diet
o 1.3Reproduction
o 1.4Mating/courtship
 2Phylogeny
o 2.1Extant species
 3As food
 4Images
 5References
 6Further reading

Anatomy and physiology[edit]

Iguanas can range from 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 ft) in length, including their tail. The
two species of lizard within the genus Iguana possess a dewlap and a row of elongated
scales running from the midline of their necks down to their tails. Iguanas have varying
types of scales covering different areas of their body, for example, there are some large
round tuberculate scales scattered around the lateral region of the neck among smaller,
overlapping scales.[5] The scales on the dorsal trunk of their body are also thicker and
more tightly packed than those on the ventral side.[5] These scales may be a variety of
colors and are not always visible from close distances. They have a large round scale
on their cheeks known as a sub-tympanic shield.[6]
Iguanas have keen vision and can see shapes, shadows, colors, and movement at long
distances. Their visual acuity enables them to navigate through crowded forests and to
locate food. They employ visual signals to communicate with other members of the
same species.[6]
The tympanum, the iguana's eardrum, is located above the sub-tympanic shield (or "ear
shield") behind each eye. Iguanas are often hard to spot, as they tend to blend into their
surroundings and their coloration enables them to hide from larger predators. [6]
Like most reptiles, an iguana has a three-chambered heart with two atria, one ventricle,
and two aortae with a systemic circulation.[7] The muscles of an iguana are very light in
color, this is due to the high proportion of fast glycolytic muscle fibers. These fibers are
not very vascularized and are low in myoglobin, giving them their pale look. This high
density of fast glycolytic muscle fibers allows iguanas to move very quickly for a short
period of time, which facilitates short bursts of movement but is inefficient for long
duration movement, since cellular respiration in fast glycolytic muscle fibers
is anaerobic.
Parietal eye[edit]
Several species of lizard, including the iguana, have a pale scale towards the back of
their head marking the parietal eye. This organ is sensitive to changes in illumination
and sends signals to the pineal gland signaling the change between day and night. A
photopigment commonly found in the lamprey, known as parapinopsin, is also found in
the iguana and is photosensitive to UV light and aids in the signaling between day and
night.[8]
Skull morphology and diet[edit]

Iguanas have an exclusively herbivorous diet,[9] as illustrated above by a green iguana eating

a mango in Venezuela

Iguanas have developed an herbivorous lifestyle, foraging exclusively on vegetation and

foliage.[9] In order to acquire, process and digest plant matter, herbivorous lizards must
have a higher bite force relative to their size in comparison
to carnivorous or omnivorous reptiles. The skull of the iguana has undergone
modifications resulting in a strong bite force and efficient processing of vegetation,
according to one study.[10]
In order to accomplish this biomechanically, herbivorous lizards (such as the iguana)
have taller and wider skulls, shorter snouts, and larger bodies relative to carnivorous
and omnivorous reptiles.[10] Increasing the robusticity of the skull allows for increased
muscle presence and increases the ability of the skull to withstand stronger forces. [11]

Green iguana skull and teeth. The teeth of the green iguana sit on the surface of the jawbone, known
as acrodontal placement.[12]

Furthermore, the teeth of the iguana are acrodontal, meaning that their teeth sit on top
of the surface of the jaw bone[12] and project upwards. The teeth themselves are small
and serrated - designed to grasp and shear food. [13]
Reproduction[edit]
Male iguanas, like other male examples of Squamata, have two hemipenes. During
copulation one hemipene will be inserted into the female's cloacal vent. Females can
store sperm from previous mates for several years to continue to fertilize her eggs in
case she finds no male within her territory when she is ready to lay again. [citation needed]
Mating/courtship[edit]
Iguanas tend to follow a promiscuous or polygynadrous mating style during the dry
season. Mating during the dry season ensures that their offspring will hatch during the
wet or rainy season when food will be more plentiful. Females control large territories
where they make several nests. Males compete amongst each other for the females in
an area and mark their won territory with a pheromone secreted from the femoral
pores on the dorsal side of their hind limbs. Male behavior during sexual competition
involves head bobbing, extending and retracting their dewlap, nuzzling and biting the
necks of females, and on occasion, changing color. Once a female chooses a male, he
will straddle the female and hold her in place by biting onto her shoulder, which
sometimes leaves scars on females. After copulation, eggs are laid within several nests
and allowed to incubate. This low level of parental intervention with their offspring
makes iguanas an example of r-strategy reproduction.[citation needed]

Phylogeny[edit]
A phylogeny based on nuclear protein-coding genes, reviewed by Vidal and Hedges
(2009) suggested that the subclade Iguania is in a group
with snakes and anguimorphs (lizards). These groups share an oral gland capable of
secreting toxins (a derived trait).[14] On the other hand, the phylogeny based on
whole mitochondrial genomes, proposed by Rest et al. (2003), places the green
iguana as the closest relative of the mole skink (Plestiodon egregius).[15] Lepidosaurs are
reptiles with overlapping scales, and within this group both iguanians
and tuataras (Sphenodons) project their tongue to seize prey items instead of using
their jaw, which is called tongue prehension. However, iguanians are the only lineage
within Squamata that displays this trait, meaning that it was gained independently in
both iguanians and tuataras.[14] Iguanians are also the only squamates that primarily use
their sight to identify and track prey rather than chemoreception or scent, and employ
an ambush technique of catching prey instead of active searching. [14]

Simple phylogeny with Reptilia highlighted in green. Iguanians are within Lepidosauria.

Extant species[edit]
 Scientific Common
Image Distribution
name Name

Lesser
Iguana The Lesser Antilles on Saint Barth, Anguilla, Sint
Antillean
delicatissima Eustatius, Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Martinique
iguana

Southern Mexico to central Brazil, the Dominican

Green Republic, Paraguay, Bolivia and the Caribbean;
Iguana iguana
iguana specifically Grenada, Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad and
Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Útila

Saban
Iguana
black Saba and Montserrat
melanoderma[3]
iguana

There are several other putative species and subspecies with controversial statuses.
Two other species formerly considered distinctive due to their nasal horns, the horned
Mexican iguana (I. rhinolopha or I. iguana rhinolopha) and the southern Antillean horned
iguana (I. insularis) are now considered conspecific with I. iguana as the presence of
horns does not necessarily indicate a new species or subspecies. The two described
subspecies of I. insularis (the Saint Lucia horned iguana (I. i. sanctaluciae) and
the Grenadines horned iguana (I. i. insularis)) are now considered subspecies of I.
iguana, although they are genetically very similar and may not be separate subspecies
from one another.[16] However, recent studies have still recovered I. rhinolopha and I.
insularis as distinct species.[17]