Published December 18, 2023. Open access. | Gallery ❯ |
Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Sauria | Iguanidae | Iguana iguana
English common name: Green Iguana.
Spanish common name: Iguana verde.
Recognition: ♂♂ 201 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=58 cm. ♀♀ 144 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=41.1 cm..1,2 The Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) can easily be identified from other similar-sized saurians in the Pacific lowlands of Ecuador by having a large, flat, round scale below the ear-opening (the subtympanic plate).2 Adult Green Iguanas are also unmistakable by their large size, high vertebral crest, and their long, whiplike tail.1,2 In the breeding season, the largest males adopt a red-orange hue, while juveniles display a vibrant green dorsal coloration (Fig. 1).1,2
Figure 1: Individuals of Iguana iguana: Reserva Las Balsas, Santa Elena province, Ecuador (); Hato La Aurora, Casanare department, Colombia (); Bucaramanga, Santander department, Colombia (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Iguana iguana is an extremely common species that inhabits a wide range of habitats, from rainforests to seasonally dry forests and xeric shrublands, especially along rivers.1,2 It also occurs in heavily modified habitats such as rural gardens and plantations.3 Individuals of all age categories are arboreal, but adults in particular spend most of their time at or near the canopy up to 30 m above the ground.1,2 During the day, Green Iguanas are active on branches and vegetation, but also forage at ground level.3 At night, they roost on shrubs and trees and tend to form aggregations.1,3 If disturbed and if above water, they can plunge and dive to the bottom.2 Green Iguanas are skilled swimmers, venturing far from the shore and even into the ocean.1,2 Although typically solitary, they occasionally form groups of up to 20 individuals, with a single large male and many smaller males and females.1 There is a clear hierarchy among males based on size.1 While predominantly herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits, adults occasionally consume bird eggs and carrion,4 and young iguanas also incorporate insects and snails into their diet.1,2,4 During the breeding season, large males establish large (up to 9,000 m2)4 territories and engage in elaborate courtship rituals before copulating with multiple females.1,2 Females lay clutches of 9–71 eggs in nest burrows in banks or beaches along rivers,4 with an incubation period of approximately 65–115 days.1,2 Juveniles routinely fall prey to fish, birds, mammalian carnivores,1,3 lizards (including Ameiva ameiva),4 and snakes (Oxybelis aeneus1); adults are preyed upon by jaguars,2 monkeys,3 crocodilians (Caiman crocodilus and Crocodylus acutus),1,2 and boids (including Boa constrictor,5 Boa imperator,3 and Eunectes murinus6).
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..7 Iguana iguana is listed in this category because the species is widely-distributed, thrives in human-modified environments, and has high population densities.7 The range of I. iguana is actually increasing as a result of its introduction into Florida, Japan, and numerous tropical islands across the globe.7
Distribution: Iguana iguana is native to the lowlands of Central America and northern South America, from México to Paraguay and southeastern Brazil. Green Iguanas occur naturally in numerous Caribbean islands, but have been introduced into many more tropical islands as well as into mainland United States (Florida). In Ecuador, the species is known only from the Pacific lowlands (Fig. 2).
Figure 2: Distribution of Iguana iguana in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The name Iguana is thought to have originated from Cariban languages, specifically from the word iwana, which is the name Arawak peoples may have used to refer to this group of lizards.8
See it in the wild: Green Iguanas can be seen with almost complete certainty in semi-open riparian habitats throughout their area of distribution in Ecuador. They are particularly abundant at Jorupe Reserve, Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, and in urban parks of Guayaquil.
Special thanks to Emmanuel Van Heygen for symbolically adopting the Green Iguana and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.
Click here to adopt a species.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieirabAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2023) Green Iguana (Iguana iguana). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/LFLP3990
Literature cited:
- Savage JM (2002) The amphibians and reptiles of Costa Rica, a herpetofauna between two continents, between two seas. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 934 pp.
- Avila-Pires TCS (1995) Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen 299: 1–706.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Krysko KL, Enge KM, Donlan EM, Seitz JC, Golden EA (2007) Distribution, natural history, and impacts of the introduced Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) in Florida. Iguana 14: 1–11.
- Photo by Edison Rivero.
- Rivas JA (2000) The life history of the Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus), with emphasis of its reproductive biology. PhD thesis, The University of Tennessee, 155 pp.
- Bock B, Malone CL, Knapp C, Aparicio J, Avila-Pires TCS, Cacciali P, Caicedo JR, Chaves G, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Gutiérrez-Cárdenas P, Lamar W, Moravec J, Perez P, Porras LW, Rivas G, Scott N, Solórzano A, Sunyer J (2020) Iguana iguana. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T174481A218317281.en
- Allsopp R (1996) Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 776 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Iguana iguana in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Nariño | CORPOICA | Pinto-Erazo et al. 2020 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Dirección General Marítima (DIMAR) | Pinto-Erazo et al. 2020 |
| Colombia | Nariño | Río Guaguí | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Nariño | Tumaco | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Ponce Erníquez | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Azuay | Río Rircay | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Bolívar | Echeandía | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cañar | La Troncal | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Cañar | Manta Real | Guerra-Correa & Rodríguez-Guerra 2020 |
| Ecuador | Chimborazo | La Isla | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Bosque Privado JDLS | Pellet 2017 |
| Ecuador | Cotopaxi | Yakusinchi | Photo by Jane Sloan |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Cascadas de Manuel | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Chorro Viringo | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Humedal La Tembladera | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | La Puntilla | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Represa Tahuin | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Reserva Militar Arenillas | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | El Oro | Zaruma, 9 mi S of | TCWC 24095; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bilsa Biological Reserve | Ortega-Andrade et al. 2010 |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Boca de Ostiones | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bosque Protector La Chiquita | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Bosque Protector La Perla | Photo by Plácido Palacios |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Camarones, 2 km E of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Chucaple, 2 km N of | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | La Cucaracha | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Moreno Vera | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Muisne | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Playa Escondida | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Pueblo Nuevo | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Andrés | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | San Lorenzo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Súa | KU 142681; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tatica | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Esmeraldas | Tonsupa | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Caliza Guayas | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | CIPORT | MZUA.Re.0067; examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Daule, 3 km N of | USNM 200733; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Guayas | El Mango | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Estero de Acumbe | Cuadrado et al. 2020 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Guayaquil, La Bahía | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Hacienda Las Habras | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Isla Puná, Subida Alta | Navarrete 2011 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Isla Santay | Cruz-García et al. 2023 |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Milagro | USNM 200731; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Naranjal | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Pedro Carbo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Represa Daule-Peripa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Río Daule | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Santa Lucía, 7 km N of | USNM 200732; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Guayas | Villa Loma | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Loja | Bosque Petrificado Puyango | Garzón-Santomaro et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Loja | Cabeza de Toro, 5 km W of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Loja | Guanábana | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Loja | Jorupe Reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Loja | Mangahurco | Photo by Fausto Siavichay |
| Ecuador | Loja | Río Boquerón | Almendariz & Brito 2011 |
| Ecuador | Loja | Río Catamayo | Photo by Pablo Loaiza |
| Ecuador | Loja | Río Cochurco | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Centro Científico Río Palenque | Miyata 1976 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Jauneche | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Montalvo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Outskirts of Babahoyo | This work |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Río San Paul | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Los Ríos | Vinces | USNM 200729; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Boca de Chila | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Bosque Seco Lalo Loor | Hamilton et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Cañaveral | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Charapotó | Guerra-Correa & Rodríguez-Guerra 2020 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Don Juan | Hamilton et al. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | El Carmen, 1 km E of | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Hotel Punta Azul | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Jama Campay | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | La Crespa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Los Senderos de Tachila | Photo by Tina Swan |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Machalilla | Almendariz & Carr 2007 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Manta | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Playa Dorada | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Portoviejo | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Reserva Jama Coaque | Lynch et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Río Canuto | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Río Jama | Photo by Lisa Brunetti |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Rocafuerte, 1 km E of | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Sucre, 4 km N of | USNM 200728; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Manabí | Tito Santos | Hamilton et a. 2005 |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | El Monte Lodge | Photo by Tom Quesenberry |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Kapari Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pichincha | Rancho Suamox | Photo by Rafael Ferro |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Comuna Loma Alta | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Santa Elena | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Santa Elena | Valdivia | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Embalse Poechos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Lobitos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Malingas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Máncora | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Piura | AMNH 66658; VertNet |
| Peru | Piura | Pocitas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Piura | Talara | ROM 42484; VertNet |
| Peru | Piura | Tambogrande, 6 km N of | LSUMZ 35246; VertNet |
| Peru | Tumbes | Cabo Inga | Tello 1998 |
| Peru | Tumbes | Matapalo | KU219831; VertNet |
| Peru | Tumbes | Rica Playa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | Tumbes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Peru | Tumbes | Zorritos | iNaturalist; photo examined |