Quick Answer
- Scientific name: Iguana iguana, also called the common or American iguana.
- Native range: Central America, tropical South America and some Caribbean islands; invasive in South Florida, Puerto Rico and other warm places.
- Size: adults commonly 4–6 feet including the tail; Florida wildlife officials report males over 5 feet and up to 17 pounds.
- Diet: mainly leaves, flowers and fruit.
- Lifespan: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cites up to 10 years in the wild and 19 in captivity; well-kept pets can live longer.
What Is a Green Iguana?
The green iguana is a large, tree-dwelling lizard in the family Iguanidae. It is the species most people picture when they hear the word "iguana," and the one most often kept as a pet. Despite its name, it is not always green. Hatchlings are usually bright green, but adults can be gray, brown, nearly black or even orange, especially males in the breeding season.
Green iguanas are excellent climbers and swimmers. They spend much of their lives in trees near rivers, lakes and coasts, and when threatened they often drop from branches into the water below.
Green Iguana at a Glance
| Trait | Details |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Iguana iguana |
| Family | Iguanidae |
| Adult length | Commonly 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) including tail, which is more than half the total length |
| Weight | Males up to about 17 lb (8 kg); females usually under about 7 lb (3 kg), per FWC |
| Diet | Herbivore: leaves, flowers, fruit |
| Eggs per clutch | About 14–76, per FWC |
| Lifespan | Up to about 10 years wild, 19+ in captivity |
| IUCN status | Least Concern overall |
What Does a Green Iguana Look Like?
- Dorsal crest: a row of soft spines runs from the neck down the back and onto the tail.
- Subtympanic shield: a large, round, shiny scale below the ear opening on each side of the head.
- Dewlap: a flap of skin under the chin, larger in males, used in displays and to help regulate temperature.
- Banded tail: dark rings along a long, whip-like tail.
- Parietal eye: a small light-sensitive spot on top of the head, often called the "third eye." See iguana third eye.
Males are usually bigger, with larger jowls, dewlaps and spines. Our guide on male vs. female iguanas explains how to tell them apart, and iguana colors covers color variation.
Where Do Green Iguanas Live?
Green iguanas are native to a large region stretching from Mexico through Central America into tropical South America, as well as some eastern Caribbean islands. They live in tropical forests, mangroves and other warm habitats, usually close to water. They are most active by day and bask in the sun to warm up.
Escaped and released pets have created invasive populations in South Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and other warm places. Florida's populations were first reported in the 1960s in Miami-Dade County. See where iguanas live and our Florida iguana guide.
What Do Green Iguanas Eat?
Green iguanas are mainly herbivorous. In the wild they eat leaves, flowers, fruit and new shoots, using microbes in their gut to ferment fibrous plant matter. In Florida, the FWC notes they eat many landscape plants, including hibiscus, roses, orchids and nickerbean, and that juveniles may also eat insects and tree snails while adults occasionally eat bird eggs or dead animals.
Pet green iguanas should be fed a plant-based diet built on leafy greens. Our guide to what iguanas eat covers proportions and supplements.
Behavior and Abilities
- Basking: green iguanas spend hours basking to reach their preferred body temperature.
- Swimming: they swim well using side-to-side tail movements, keeping their legs against their bodies.
- Surviving falls: they are often reported to survive falls from heights of 40 feet or more.
- Tail defense: they lash their tails at threats and can drop part of the tail if grabbed. See do iguana tails grow back.
- Head bobbing and dewlap displays: used to communicate with other iguanas. See iguana body language.
- Cold sensitivity: in cold snaps, Florida's wild iguanas become stunned and can fall from trees. See falling iguanas.
Reproduction
Female green iguanas reach maturity at about two to four years old. In their native range, mating usually happens once a year, and females dig nests in sandy soil, often on riverbanks and beaches. The FWC notes that egg chambers can include nearly 80 feet of connected tunnels and that clutches range from 14 to 76 eggs. Hatchlings are bright green and receive no care from their parents. Many are eaten by predators in their first year.
Pet females can lay eggs even without a male, which can lead to health problems. See our guide to iguana eggs.
How Long Do Green Iguanas Live?
The FWC gives a lifespan of up to 10 years in the wild and 19 years in captivity. Many care sources report that well-kept pet green iguanas can live 15 to 20 years or more. Diet, UVB lighting, temperature and veterinary care make a big difference. Our iguana lifespan guide explains what helps iguanas live longer.
Green Iguanas as Pets
Green iguanas have long been one of the most common pet lizards, partly because hatchlings are inexpensive. They are also demanding: they grow large, need a room-sized enclosure, strong UVB lighting, heat and a fresh plant diet, and they can be defensive as adults. Read are iguanas good pets? and our iguana care guide before buying one. In Florida, green iguanas are a prohibited species and cannot be newly acquired as pets.
Is the Green Iguana One Species?
Scientists have long treated the green iguana as a single, widespread species, Iguana iguana, with a separate close relative, the endangered Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima). Genetic studies show that green iguanas from different regions differ considerably, and some researchers now recognize certain Caribbean island populations as distinct species or subspecies. Classification may continue to change as research continues. One conservation concern is that invasive green iguanas can interbreed with the Lesser Antillean iguana on islands where both occur, threatening the rarer species.
Green Iguana vs. Other Iguanas
| Species | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Marine iguana | Dark, sea-feeding iguana found only in the Galápagos |
| Rhinoceros iguana | Ground-dwelling rock iguana with horn-like snout scales |
| Blue iguana | Endangered rock iguana from Grand Cayman |
| Spiny-tailed iguanas | Smaller, faster, spiny-tailed and more omnivorous |
| Desert iguana | Small, pale lizard of the US Southwest deserts |
See all species in our types of iguanas guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Big Do Green Iguanas Get?
Adults commonly reach 4 to 6 feet including the tail. Florida officials report males over 5 feet and up to 17 pounds.
Are Green Iguanas Dangerous?
They are not venomous and avoid people, but adults can bite, scratch and tail-whip if cornered or handled, and they can carry Salmonella.
Why Is My Green Iguana Not Green?
Green iguanas vary from green to gray, brown or black, and males can turn orange in the breeding season. Temperature, mood and health can also affect color.
Is the Green Iguana Endangered?
No. The species as a whole is listed as Least Concern, though some local populations are affected by hunting and habitat loss.
Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Green Iguana; SeaWorld, Green Iguana.
