Interesting Facts

• Green iguanas are popular as pets. Unfortunately they are difficult to care for, and many pet iguanas die within the first year. They have also become an invasive species in Florida due to pet iguanas escaping or being released into the wild.
• An iguana’s tail makes up about half its body length. Their tails are used for balance, as well as a defense mechanism. An iguana can use its tail as a whip to defend itself against a predator.
• Iguanas, like many other lizards, can detach their tail in order to escape predators. The detached tail continues to thrash, distracting the predator, while the iguana runs to safety. The lost tail will grow back over time.

Conservation Status

Threats

This species of iguana is considered common. Some populations are threatened by hunting, however, as a whole the species is not considered at risk at this time.