Iguanas tend to have tall, flat plates jutting from their back like spines, when adult. Several species of this genus are common as pets, especially the Green Iguana in the United States and Canada, which can easily grow to six feet long, even in captivity. When treated well they can be docile, litterbox trainable, and even walked on a leash. Such pets are either crèche-raised, or harvested from the wild in Mexico. The average life span of a well taken care of pet iguana is usually 20 years.
Captured iguanas kept as pets tend to be thin and nervous, often dying from side-effects of the stress of adapting to captivity - though if they're given a large swimming area in which to hide, their chances of survival improve, as they live on streambanks in the wild, diving in when alarmed or for other reasons. As they are cold-blooded creatures, they thrive in humid climates.
Pictures and Clipart
- Iguanas Pictures (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals/Reptiles/Iguanas)
- Animal Pictures (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals)
- Animal Clipart (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Clipart/Animals)
- Reptile Clipart (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Clipart/Animals/Reptiles)
- Amphibian Pictures (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals/Amphibians)
- Reptile Pictures (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals/Reptiles)
- Lizard Pictures (http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Animals/Reptiles/Lizards)
Species of the genus Iguana
(after Frost et al.)
References
- Frost, D.E. and R.E. Etheridge (1989) A Phylogenetic Analysis and Taxonomy of Iguanian Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata). Univ. Kansas Mus. Nat. Hist. Misc. Publ. 81
- Frost, D.R., R. Etheridge, D. Janies and T.A. Titus (2001) Total evidence, sequence alignment, evolution of Polychrotid lizards, and a reclassification of the Iguania (Squamata: Iguania). American Museum Novitates 3343: 38 pp.
