Common Green Iguana

It is one of the largest lizards in America. As juveniles, they have green and brown spots, however, as they grow the colour becomes a more uniform green. Common Green Iguanas have long toes with strong claws that help them climb. They have a fold of skin under the neck - called a dewlap - which is larger in males than females, as well as a dorsal ridge that extends to the tail.

Iguanas are arboreal and diurnal reptiles. They are social animals and may search for food or sunbathe together. However, during the breeding season, males are quite territorial. They usually live near water and are excellent swimmers. When they feel in danger, they can defend themselves by striking hard with their tail, although more commonly they adopt a fleeing behaviour towards the water. They are strong enough to survive and land on dry land from a height of up to 12 meters.

The Common Green Iguana is a species used for human consumption since pre-colonial times. This species is also captured for its medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. They are vulnerable to hunting, especially the females, which are easy to capture during nesting. It is estimated that the legal international trade in juvenile Iguanas between 2001 and 2008 was approximately 4.5 million individuals. The magnitude of the illegal trade in Iguanas is still difficult to document. Their habitat has been reduced due to development and land use for grazing. The use of Iguana skins for leather production is also a common practice. To regularize the trade of this species, it has been included in Appendix II of CITES since 1977.