Green Iguana

Description:

A large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean. Green iguanas possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators.Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one. Iguanas have a well developed dewlap which helps regulate their body temperature.This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays. Green iguanas have a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads called the parietal eye (also called third eye, pineal eye or pineal gland), in contrast to most other lizards which have lost this primitive feature.This "eye" has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images, but is sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement. This helps the iguana detect predators stalking it from above. These were basking in the sun inbetween palm tree branches.

Habitat:

Near Caño Negro, Costa Rica.