black spiny-tailed iguana

Description:

Black spiny-tailed iguana have distinctive keeled scales on their long tails, which gives them their common name. They are the largest members of the genus Ctenosaura, males capable of growing up to 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) in length and females slightly shorter at 1 meter (3 ft 3 in).They have a crest of long spines which extends down the center of the back. Although coloration varies extremely among individuals of the same population, adults usually have a whitish gray or tan ground color with a series of 4–12 well-defined dark dorsal bands that extend nearly to the ventral scales. Males also develop an orange color around the head and throat during breeding season with highlights of blue and peach on their jowls.

Habitat:

Low deciduous vegetation - This photo was taken in the Parque Ecológico Rufino Tamayo, La Crucecita, Oaxaca which is a protected area in the center of the town of La Crucecita. Black iguana can be spotted all over the town usually living in drainage ditches and I usually spot them on the ground or on walls.