Iguana Habitat

Iguanas are large arboreal lizards native to Central and South America, typically characterized by a dewlap and a spiny crest running down their back, to the tail. Basically, only two species of lizards belong to the genus Iguana - the green iguana and the Lesser Antillean Iguana.

Though the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) and the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) are commonly referred to as the iguanas, they actually don't belong to the genus Iguana. Desert iguana, native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, is the lone species of genus Dipsosaurus, while marine iguana, endemic to the Galápagos Islands, is the lone species of genus Amblyrhynchus.

Iguana Geographical Range and Natural Habitat

The natural habitat of these reptiles spans the tropical areas of the planet, with green iguanas inhabiting the tropical rainforests of South America and Lesser Antillean iguana inhabiting the Lesser Antilles, a group of islands towards the southeast West Indies. The details are discussed below.

Green Iguana
The green iguana, also referred to as the common iguana, is found in the rainforests of Central and South America. This iguana species can grow up to a length of 1.5 meters, from its head to tail, and weigh up to 20 lbs. The Green iguanas are excellent climbers and are seen on the trees for most of the time. Their primary range spans across Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Green iguanas are also found in pockets in certain parts of the United States, including Texas, Hawaii and Floris, where they are considered to be pests.

Lesser Antillean Iguana
The Lesser Antillean iguana, as its name suggests is endemic to the Lesser Antilles - a group of islands in the West Indies. This lizard species, typically characterized by ivory colored scale on their head, can grow up to a length of 16 inches excluding the tail which is almost double the size. Being herbivores, these lizards tend to feed on flowers, fruits, leaves, shoots etc. They are found on several islands of the Lesser Antilles, including Antigua, Dominica, Anguilla, Saint Barth etc. The most prominent factor responsible for the declining numbers of Lesser Antillean iguana is habitat destruction.

Iguana Habitat in Captivity

Over the last few years, iguanas have become quite popular as exotic pets. Iguanas grow very quickly in size, and hence you need to make sure that the tank wherein you house your pet iguana is large enough to facilitate free movement for it. Ideally, the habitat should be at least double the length of your pet and around 6 ft in height - though a larger space is always better. Being natural climbers, they need regular exercise or else they can develop some serious health problems such as muscle weakness. The substrate for this habitat can be made from newspaper, paper towels or a carpet. Iguanas are cold-blooded animals, and hence you need to make sure that their habitat is kept warm. Ideal temperature during the day shouldn't be below 80ºF. More importantly, the humidity levels should be around 65 to 75 percent, which will make it quite similar to their natural habitat. You also need to make sure that there are hot and cold regions within the habitat. The hottest part of the tank should be around 90º-95ºF, which will be an apt basking spot for your pet iguana.

As we mentioned before Lesser Antillean iguana population has gone down drastically, and the species has been declared vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Green iguana doesn't seem to face any problems as yet, however, to be on the safer side, the authorities have come up with some norms which curb the trade of this species, so that the population doesn't suffer in future.