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Description
Green Iguana (Normal)
Scientific Name: Iguana iguana
Common Name: Green Iguana
Species Overview
Size: Adults typically reach 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) in total length, with large males sometimes exceeding this range. Their long tail accounts for more than half their total length.
Appearance: The Normal Green Iguana displays vibrant green to emerald tones across the body, with some individuals showing hints of blue, yellow, or orange depending on age, locality, or season. Males often develop more pronounced jowls, taller dorsal spines, and larger dewlaps. Their muscular limbs, powerful tail, and keeled scales contribute to their strong arboreal abilities.
Distribution: Native to Central and South America, including Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil.
Habitat: Wild Green Iguanas inhabit tropical forests, mangroves, riverbanks, and high-canopy environments. They rely heavily on tall trees for basking, feeding, and escaping predators. In captivity, they require extensive vertical space and dense climbing structures to mimic their natural environment.
Behaviour: Green Iguanas are diurnal, arboreal, and primarily herbivorous. They spend much of the day basking and feeding on vegetation. Defensive behaviours include dewlap extension, head-bobbing, tail-whipping, and fleeing to water or high branches when startled. They are intelligent lizards with strong seasonal and territorial instincts, especially in mature males.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide a large, vertically oriented enclosure at least 8 feet × 4 feet × 4 feet (2.4 × 1.2 × 1.2 m) for a growing iguana, with even larger custom enclosures ideal for adults. Include sturdy branches, ramps, secure basking shelves, vines, and dense foliage. These lizards require strong structural support due to their size and strength.
Temperature and Humidity:
Basking area: 100 to 105°F (38 to 40°C)
Warm side: 90 to 95°F (32 to 35°C)
Cool side: 78 to 82°F (26 to 28°C)
Night temperatures: 72 to 75°F (22 to 24°C)
Maintain humidity around 60 to 80 percent through misting and access to large water dishes.
Lighting: Strong full-spectrum lighting and high-output UVB (10 to 12 percent) are essential. Proper lighting ensures healthy bone development, metabolism, and natural behaviour.
Diet: Green Iguanas require a strict herbivorous diet composed of dark leafy greens, edible flowers, bell peppers, squash, green beans, and limited fruits. Avoid high-oxalate vegetables. Provide consistent calcium supplementation, especially for juveniles and breeding animals.
Behaviour in Captivity: They are active, observant, and intelligent. With proper habitat size and routine, they adapt well, though handling tolerance varies greatly. Green Iguanas benefit from predictable schedules, abundant climbing structures, and secure basking zones.
Special Considerations:
• Extremely large enclosures are required for long-term success.
• Strong UVB and a proper herbivorous diet are essential.
• Mature males may become territorial during breeding season.
• Regular veterinary checks help monitor growth and calcium health.
Taxonomy Note
The Green Iguana belongs to the family Iguanidae, a diverse group of New World lizards known for herbivory and arboreal adaptations. Iguana iguana is one of the most recognizable and widespread members of the family.
Genetics Note
Green Iguanas exhibit natural variation in tone, pattern, and seasonal colour shifts. While the species has established colour morphs such as Albino, Axanthic (Blue), and Translucent, the Normal variant represents the full natural expression of wild Iguana iguana without selective breeding.