Iguanas

At first glance, iguanas look quite dangerous. Are they what we imagine dragons to look like when we read about them in fairy tales? Don’t worry, though. Iguanas are very docile and harmless. There are about 700 different species. One widespread species is the green iguana, found mainly in Central and South America. From head to rump, it reaches about 45 centimeters in length; including its long tail, it can grow to around 1.5 to 2 meters overall. Males grow slightly longer than females.

Iguanas' bodies are covered in scales. These are especially prominent on the head, where one scale is greatly enlarged. Iguanas also have a large throat pouch, and a crest runs along their backs from head to tail. Their bodies are usually greenish-grey, but can also be brownish. Their limbs can take on reddish-orange colours. They prefer densely forested areas. They spend most of their time in trees or bushes. However, they are also very good swimmers and can run surprisingly fast on land.

Iguanas eat only plants, especially leaves. Males defend their territory by making threatening gestures. They may puff up their dewlap or vigorously nod their heads. Occasionally, they also lash out with their tails. Female iguanas lay about 30 to 45 eggs once a year in a burrow. The young hatch after about 8 weeks. The parents do not care for them.

In some countries, people eat iguanas. There are now farms where iguanas are bred and raised. In Europe, animal lovers sometimes keep them in terrariums. But they can sometimes grow bigger and longer than their owners originally expect.