Galapagos Land Iguana

Description:

The colourful land iguana with their yellowish-prange belly and brownish back are an endemic species of the Galapagos islands. They can grow to 1 metre (3ft) in length. Iguanas are diurnal. They have distinctive eyelids, external eardrums, dewlaps (throat pouches), each limb has 5 toes with sharp claws. Iguanas are vegetarians. The main food of land iguanas is the prickly pear cactus that provides both food and water for the lizards

Habitat:

The land iguana lives in the arid parts of the Galapagos islands. They make burrows (tunnels) in the ground for nesting and for shade during the day and protection during the night.

Notes:

"Iguana" a Spanish word of Indian origin also serves as the scientific name for the family.