Important Characteristics of the Iguana

Having a pet iguana may sound like a good idea but it is better to get a good idea of the iguana body before one decides to get a pet iguana. That's because the male and female iguanas are very different, and the size and skin of the iguana are essential parts of the iguana. There are also some important parts of the body regarding iguana health to consider.

An iguana is a member of the Iguanidae family of animals. The limbs of an iguana are short but its claws are especially strong and sharp. Climbing is an especially enjoyable things for iguanas to do as a result.

The tail of the iguana is used as a means of defense against other predators. The tail moves in that it moves up towards the air and is whipped when a predator comes near it. The tail is also used for swimming.

The dewlap is another part of the iguana body as well. It is a large flap of skin on the sides of the iguana body. This is located in the throat area of the male iguana. It is used to intimidate predators in the wild or to attract female iguanas. The most important thing about the dewlap though is that it regulates body temperature. This is especially important for cold blooded animals like iguanas.

The male iguana tends to be bigger than a female iguana. The male's spine is longer and is brighter in color and larger in terms of the size of the animal's head.

Both male and female iguanas have about twelve or thirteen pores under the sides of their thighs. These pores eject substances that are like wax and are used to help with identifying others and for marking areas that they consider to be their territories. As the male iguana matures into adulthood his femoral pores will develop to where they project outwards so that he can copulate with a female iguana.

The iguana skin is important to consider for a pet iguana. The scales on the skin are especially small and dense. Also, when the iguana is exposed to light some parts of the skin will get darker in color. At first the skin of the iguana will be pale green with black rings on its tail. Over time the iguana will develop darker colored skin and with darker skin on the tail.

In a natural area the iguana will look as though it was wary in that it feels danger around it. Because of this the iguana can often be seen running around in the wild. The accurate vision and great sense of sound can be used to their advantage as a result. The iguana's swimming and climbing abilities are also great.

The last part about iguana health involves mating. Mating generally occurs in the early part of the year, and the female iguana will be pregnant for about two months before she lays her eggs in the ground.

The iguana body is not something that is easy to understand. However, it is best to understand it before considering a pet iguana. The skin, characteristics and general body temperature of the iguana are all important parts of the animal to see.

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