What the sources say
Green IguanaIguana iguana
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Green Iguana profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
Profile updated
Source
01
Bock et al. 2022
Bock et al. (2022). Iguana iguana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T174481A218317281.
- The page saysLeast Concern
- The source says
IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
Note: GBIF copy of the Red List, taxon 174481
Source
02
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Iguana iguana (common green iguana). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page saysA tree-top lizard with a light sensor on top of its skull that meters the sun and spots predator shadows from above.
- The source says
Green Iguanas are arboreal lizards that live high in the tree canopy. ... On the dorsal midline of the skull behind the eyes is a parietal eye. This sense organ, although not a true "eye," serves as a meter for solar energy ... The visual effect of this "eye" is mostly limited to the detection of predatory shadows from above.
Note: tagline; shadows claim below - The page saysTrees near water in Central and South America, from Mexico south to Paraguay and southeast Brazil; introduced to southern Florida and Hawaii
- The source says
occur throughout Central and South America, from Sinaloa and Veracruz, Mexico, south to the Tropic of Capricorn in Paraguay and southeast Brazil. ... and has been introduced into southern Florida and in Hawaii.
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysTrees near water
- The source says
they prefer to have water around as they are excellent swimmers
Note: stats.habitat - The page saysMostly leaves, flowers and fruit; the young also eat some insects and eggs
- The source says
Green iguanas are primarily herbivorous. ... Green leafy plants or ripe fruits are their preferred foods.
Note: stats.diet; flowers and young below - The page saysflowers
- The source says
Plant Foods leaves fruit flowers
Note: stats.diet - The page saysthe young also eat some insects and eggs
- The source says
The young, with higher need for protein, are more likely to consume insects and eggs than are mature individuals.
Note: stats.diet - The page saysSheds its tail to escape and dives from overhanging branches into water
- The source says
Iguanas prefer to bask in tree limbs that over-hang water so when threatened by a predator they can dive into the water and swim swiftly away. In addition to these strategies for avoiding predation, green iguanas are able to shed a large portion of their tail
Note: stats.superpower - The page saysGreen iguanas (Iguana iguana) live high in the tree canopy
- The source says
Green Iguanas are arboreal lizards that live high in the tree canopy.
- The page sayshawks and other large birds are potential predators of the young
- The source says
Hawks and other large birds are potential predators of juvenile iguanas.
- The page saysThere sits a parietal eye. It is not a true eye. It serves as a meter for solar energy.
- The source says
On the dorsal midline of the skull behind the eyes is a parietal eye. This sense organ, although not a true "eye," serves as a meter for solar energy
- The page saysThe visual effect of the parietal eye is mostly limited to the detection of predatory shadows from above.
- The source says
The visual effect of this "eye" is mostly limited to the detection of predatory shadows from above.
- The page saysTheir colouring matches so much of the green around them that an iguana can stay still when it spots a predator and go unnoticed.
- The source says
Because they look like so much of their green environment, they can remain immobile when a predator has been spotted, and go unnoticed themselves.
- The page saysIn the morning, when body temperature is low, skin is darker and helps the lizard absorb heat.
- The source says
In the morning, while body temperature is low, skin color will be darker, helping the lizard to absorb heat from sunlight.
- The page saysAt hot midday the skin turns paler and helps reflect the sun's rays.
- The source says
as the hot mid-day sun radiates upon them, these animals become lighter or paler, helping to reflect the sun rays and minimizing the heat absorbed
- The page saysWithin three years, a young 12 gram hatchling can become a 1 kg adult.
- The source says
Within three years, a young, 12 gram hatchling iguana can become a 1 kg adult
- The page saysSome in South America can reach up to 8 kg with a proper diet.
- The source says
but some in South America, with proper diet can reach up to 8 kg.
- The page saysHead to tail they can reach around 2 m.
- The source says
These large lizards can reach head to tail lengths of around 2 m.
- The page saysThe native range runs from Sinaloa and Veracruz in Mexico south to the Tropic of Capricorn in Paraguay and southeast Brazil. They have also been introduced into southern Florida and Hawaii.
- The source says
from Sinaloa and Veracruz, Mexico, south to the Tropic of Capricorn in Paraguay and southeast Brazil. ... and has been introduced into southern Florida and in Hawaii.
- The page saysIguanas prefer to bask on tree limbs that overhang water, so when a predator threatens they can dive in and swim swiftly away.
- The source says
Iguanas prefer to bask in tree limbs that over-hang water so when threatened by a predator they can dive into the water and swim swiftly away.
- The page saysIf they are caught, they can shed a large portion of the tail. A new one regrows within a year, though not to the length it was before.
- The source says
If caught, twisting and rotating around or tail whipping may occur. Like many other lizards, iguanas can autotomatize, or drop of part of their tail. ... A new tail will sprout from the autotomatized spot and regrow with in a year, though not to the length it was before.
- The page saysGreen iguanas are primarily herbivorous, and green leafy plants or ripe fruits are their preferred foods.
- The source says
Green iguanas are primarily herbivorous. ... Green leafy plants or ripe fruits are their preferred foods.
- The page saysThey bite off small pieces to swallow, with little or no chewing.
- The source says
Green iguanas use their tongues to help manipulate the food and bite small enough pieces to swallow, with little or no chewing.
- The page saysMost digestion happens in the sacculated colon, where microflora (gut microbes) break down the cellulose.
- The source says
Most digestion occurs in the sacculated colon, where microflora break down the cellulose
Note: (gut microbes) is a gloss on microflora - The page saysHatchlings are inclined to eat feces from adults, which may be an adaptation for acquiring this much needed microflora.
- The source says
Hatchling iguanas are inclined to eat feces from adults, which may be an adaptation for acquiring this much need microflora.
- The page saysYoung iguanas have a higher need for protein and are more likely to eat insects and eggs than adults are.
- The source says
The young, with higher need for protein, are more likely to consume insects and eggs than are mature individuals.
- The page saysBasking is an important aid to digestion.
- The source says
Basking is an important aid to digestion.
- The page saysAnimal Diversity Web says they can reach about 2 m from head to tail, and some in South America reach up to 8 kg on a proper diet.
- The source says
but some in South America, with proper diet can reach up to 8 kg. These large lizards can reach head to tail lengths of around 2 m.
Note: FAQ; 'Long and, when well fed, heavy' is voice - The page saysThere is a parietal eye on top of the skull, behind the normal ones. Animal Diversity Web says it is not a true eye, and that it mostly picks up the shadows of predators above it.
- The source says
On the dorsal midline of the skull behind the eyes is a parietal eye. This sense organ, although not a true "eye," ... The visual effect of this "eye" is mostly limited to the detection of predatory shadows from above.
Note: FAQ - The page saysTwelve grams to a kilogram in three years
- The source says
Within three years, a young, 12 gram hatchling iguana can become a 1 kg adult
Note: heading - The page saysLook at the top of an iguana's head, behind its ordinary eyes.
- The source says
On the dorsal midline of the skull behind the eyes is a parietal eye.
- The page saysTheir colour can shift with the day.
- The source says
Such color alteration may aide these animals in thermoregulation. In the morning, while body temperature is low, skin color will be darker
- The page saysA leaf eater that runs on gut microbes
- The source says
Microflora are essential for hind-gut digestion of the hard to digest diet of this species.
Note: heading - The page saysA green iguana's parietal eye, on top of its skull, mostly picks up the shadows of predators from above
- The source says
On the dorsal midline of the skull behind the eyes is a parietal eye. ... The visual effect of this "eye" is mostly limited to the detection of predatory shadows from above.
Source
03
AnAge, Human Ageing Genomic Resources
AnAge entry for Iguana iguana. AnAge, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.
- The page saysAnAge lists a maximum longevity of 19.8 years in captivity.
- The source says
Maximum longevity 19.8 years (captivity)
- The page saysThe record in the AnAge ageing database is 19.8 years, set by a captive animal.
- The source says
Maximum longevity 19.8 years (captivity)
Note: FAQ - The page saysThe AnAge database puts the average adult at 1,530 g.
- The source says
Life history traits (averages) Female sexual maturity 1,640 days Male sexual maturity 1,640 days Adult weight 1,530 g
Note: replaces ADW 'most mature 4 to 6 kg' (current AnAge page wins)
Source
04
The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago, University of the West Indies
Iguana iguana (Green Iguana). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago, University of the West Indies.
- The page saysDuring displays of combat an iguana can produce a loud hissing sound, or a cough from a sudden burst of exhaling.
- The source says
Expiration of air during respiration after long periods of uninterrupted inspiration during displays of combat may result in the production of a loud hissing sound alternately large, sudden bursts of expiration can result in a coughing sound being produced by the animal.
Source
05
Falcón, Ackerman & Daehler 2012
Falcón, Ackerman & Daehler (2012). March of the Green Iguana: Non-native Distribution and Predicted Geographic Range of Iguana iguana in the Greater Caribbean Region. Reptiles & Amphibians.
- The page saysAfter a hurricane in 1995, at least 15 iguanas rafted on trees from Guadeloupe until they reached the coast of Anguilla, some 200 miles away.
- The source says
another originated from Guadeloupe after a hurricane in 1995 sent at least 15 iguanas rafting on trees until they reached the Anguillan coast some 200 miles away
- The page saysResearchers recorded iguanas reaching Anguilla on rafts of floating vegetation that drifted about 320 km from Guadeloupe.
- The source says
Censky et al. (1998) recorded Green Iguanas reaching Anguilla on rafts of floating vegetation that had drifted about 320 km from their source in Guadeloupe.
Note: FAQ - The page saysSome swam or floated.
- The source says
are known to have colonized islands after swimming or rafting considerable distances
Note: FAQ
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.