Iguanas of the World: A Colorful Guide to Key Species
1. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
📍 Range: Caribbean (Hispaniola)
🦏 Trait: Horn-like scales on snout
📏 Size: 1.2m (4ft) / 4.5-9kg
🎨 Color: Gray with black bands
⚠️ Status: Vulnerable
2. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
📍 Range: Tropical Americas (invasive in Florida)
🌿 Trait: Long whip-like tail (2x body length)
📏 Size: 1.5m (5ft) / 4kg
🎨 Color: Vibrant green (males turn orange in mating season)
⚠️ Status: Least Concern
3. Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi)
📍 Range: Cayman Islands
🔵 Trait: Striking blue-gray coloration
📏 Size: 1.5m (5ft) / 11kg
⚠️ Status: Endangered (~1,000 left)
💡 Fun Fact: National symbol of the Cayman Islands
4. Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
📍 Range: Galápagos Islands
🌊 Trait: Only sea-going lizard
📏 Size: 0.6-1.3m (2-4.3ft)
🎨 Color: Black (turns red/green in mating season)
⚠️ Status: Vulnerable
5. Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis)
📍 Range: SW USA/NW Mexico
☀️ Trait: Heat-tolerant (up to 46°C/115°F)
📏 Size: 0.4m (16in)
🎨 Color: Pale gray with brown spots
Conservation Spotlight
🔷 Blue Iguana Recovery Program: Brought population from 25 to 1,000+
🐢 Marine Iguana Threat: Climate change reduces algae (their main food)
Visual Comparison
| Species | Size | Color | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinoceros Iguana | 1.2m | Gray-black | Rocky outcrops |
| Green Iguana | 1.5m | Green/Orange | Rainforests |
| Blue Iguana | 1.5m | Steel blue | Dry forests |
| Marine Iguana | 1.3m | Black/Red | Coastal lava |
| Desert Iguana | 0.4m | Sandy gray | Sonoran Desert |
Did You Know?
Marine iguanas sneeze salt from glands near their noses!
Perfect For: Biology classes, reptile enthusiasts, or conservation discussions.
(Sources: IUCN Red List, Galápagos Conservancy)