Fun Blue Iguana Facts For Kids
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In this article, we shall be discussing the magnificent blue iguana from the reptilian world.
The blue iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is a big lizard that lives on the island of Grand Cayman. These lizards are big in size and grow to have an average body length of 5 ft (1.5 m) and body weight of 30 lb (14 kg).
They are greenish-blue in color and have black feet. They have a very long tail like all reptiles.
These reptiles faced a huge fall in their population count some years ago but according to recent news, their population is growing and they are doing well in their habitats. They are herbivores who mainly eat leaves from trees, flowers, and fruits but sometimes they are seen to eat insects also.
We have prepared some interesting and funny facts about this iguana species. Keep reading to find out. And if you are someone who likes reading random animal facts then do check our northern pine snake facts and cape file snake facts page.
Blue Iguana Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a blue iguana?
Blue iguana species are big lizards who are native to the wild of the Grand Cayman island.
What class of animal does a blue iguana belong to?
The Grand Cayman blue iguana belongs to the class Reptilia, order Squamata, family Iguanidae and genus Cyclura. Their binomial nomenclature is Cyclura lewisi.
How many blue iguanas are there in the world?
The Grand Cayman blue iguana species (Cyclura lewisi) are considered as Endangered species. Their estimated population count is around 450 individuals. With lots of care and nurturing, their population is now growing in the wild.
Where does a blue iguana live?
Blue iguanas (Cyclura lewisi) can be spotted in the rocky and bright areas of the Cayman Islands. They live on land and are often found near the shore also.
What is a blue iguana's habitat?
The Grand Cayman blue iguana species (Cyclura lewisi) are endemic to the Cayman Islands. These big lizards can be spotted resting on rocky surfaces or chilling near the shore. Blue iguanas inhabit dry areas such as xerophytic shrublands. They prefer being in sunlight while enjoying their day.
Who do blue iguanas live with?
Grand Cayman blue iguanas are solitary animals and spend their time almost alone in the wild. They only come together for breeding purposes and after that, they again part ways.
How long does a blue iguana live?
Grand Cayman blue iguanas are known to be long lived species. They have an average lifespan of 25-40 years.
How do they reproduce?
The Grand Cayman blue iguana is very territorial in nature. Their breeding season nearly commences from May and ends by the end of June.
During mating, the male performs numerous head-bobs on the female and like other lizards, grabs the female by the neck. After mating, the females generally lay their eggs between June and July. Female blue iguanas lay a clutch of around 1-21 eggs in their natural habitat exposed to the Sun.
The laid eggs go through an incubation period of around 65-90 days. These young blue iguanas reach sexual maturity at the age of four.
What is their conservation status?
According to the IUCN Red List, the Grand Cayman blue iguanas are enlisted under the conservation status of Endangered species with a population count of around 450 individuals.
Blue Iguana Fun Facts
What do blue iguanas look like?
The Grand Cayman blue iguana is native to the wild of Cayman Island. They are big lizards who are mainly green-blue in color.
Their body color is very helpful for people and helps them easily identify the males and the females. Male blue iguanas are mainly turquoise colored with an essence of gray on it. While the females have body color which is a mixture of olive green, blue and gray.
The blue iguana species is known to be the largest land animal that inhabits the Cayman Islands. The length of their body is around 5 ft (1.5 m) and their maximum weight can be around 30 lb (14 kg).
They have a narrow head and the skin of this iguana species is very wrinkled. Their feet are black in color and have golden eyes. Blue iguana is sexually dimorphic.
The males are bigger in size if compared to the females. The marine iguana is another magnificent iguana.
How cute are they?
They are not that cute. But some people find them adorable.
How do they communicate?
Grand Cayman blue iguana species are solitary animals who don't socialize easily. They are aggressively territorial. They communicate through a typical sneezing or bobbing sound. They also communicate through releasing pheromones.
How big is a blue iguana?
Blue iguanas are big animals that are native to Cayman Island. The blue iguana's average body length can reach up to 5 ft (1.5 m) and their body weight can be as high as 30 lb (14 kg). They are the largest land animals in their habitat in Cayman Island. They are bigger than regular iguanas.
How fast can a blue iguana move?
The blue iguana is certainly a lazy animal but when they are aggressive or feel threatened, they can run at a speed of about 21 mph (34 kph).
How much does a blue iguana weigh?
The blue iguanas are big lizards with an average weight of 30 lb (14 kg). They are around 5 ft (1.5 m) long.
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no specific names assigned to the males and females of this species. They are commonly known as blue iguanas. However, these iguanas are sexually dimorphic in nature. Male iguanas are characteristically dominant. They are bigger than the females by one-third of their size and have bigger pheromone releasing pores.
What would you call a baby blue iguana?
Baby iguanas are commonly called hatchlings.
What do they eat?
Blue iguana is primarily herbivorous in nature. They spend their time eating leaves from trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They also have been very rarely seen eating insects.
Are they poisonous?
They bear mild venom in them, unlike snakes. But at the same time, they are very famous as pets and are often seen to be collected by reptile collectors. Aggressive blue iguanas can be dangerous for humans as they possess sharp teeth that can easily damage humans organs they come in contact with like hands and faces.
Would they make a good pet?
Yes, the blue iguana as a pet is very common among reptile collectors. But it is a bit tough to maintain a good relation with them. Iguanas are mostly solitary so in order to keep them friendly, proper blue iguana care must be ensured.
Did you know...
Due to their Endangered conservation status, keeping a blue iguana pet is very costly nowadays. The price of a blue iguana is estimated at around $1000 USD.
Some snakes and other animals living in the same habitat are known to kill their young and destroy their eggs. But there is no creature available in the territory that can eat a blue iguana. Because of their big size, blue iguanas have no natural predators.
Are blue iguanas aggressive?
The blue iguana is aggressive while protecting its territory. Otherwise, they usually bear a calm temper.
Are blue iguanas slimy?
Actually, reptiles have very few pores on their skin to excrete sweat or oil. That's why most of the reptiles have naturally rough and dry skins. Crocodiles are the best example here.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other animals from our mantled howler monkey facts and spotted linsang facts page.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Blue iguana coloring page.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature
Chandrayan ChoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature
Skilled content writer Chandrayan has a passion for producing compelling and engaging content. With an excellent command of the English language and a talent for research and proofreading, Chandrayan has honed his skills through years of experience in the industry. Chandrayan is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Tripura University, demonstrating his dedication to the craft of writing.
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