Marine Iguana
Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Iguanas
iguanas_g387
About
Iguanas are large lizards known for their spiny back ridge and loose throat flap. In this app the group includes just the marine iguana.
How to tell it apart
Look for the row of tall, spiky scales down the back and the loose skin flap under the chin, both easy to see even at a distance.
Appearance
Iguanas are large lizards, from about 1.2 to 2 metres long including the tail. They have a loose flap of skin under the chin called a dewlap, and a row of long, spiky scales running from the neck down the back to the tail. A large round scale sits on each cheek.
Breeding
Female iguanas lay their eggs in an underground nest that they dig themselves. A female can store sperm from an earlier mating for several years, so she can still lay fertile eggs even without a male nearby.
Did you know?
A female iguana can store sperm inside her body for years, so she can still lay fertile eggs even if no male is around when she is ready to nest.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.