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Green Iguana
Judy Gallagher, CC BY-SA 4.0, via iNaturalist

Lizards & worm lizards

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758)

LC Least Concern

Names

EnglishGreen Iguana
DutchGroene Leguaan
Spanish—
Chinese绿鬣蜥
Sranan Tongolegwana
Sranan Tongoagama
Scientific nameIguana iguana (Linnaeus, 1758)

About this species

The green iguana (Iguana iguana), also known as the American iguana or the common green iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico. It is highly invasive in many subtropical and tropical environments throughout the world.

A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 m (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 9 kg (20 lb).

Although this species is commonly kept as a pet because of its disposition and coloration, it can be challenging to care for properly. Its requirements for adequate space, lighting, and heat can be difficult for hobbyists to meet.

Read more on Wikipedia · Text: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Classification

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassSquamata
FamilyIguanidae
GenusIguana

In Suriname

306Records in Suriname
134iNaturalist observations
1648First record
2026Latest record

Where it has been recorded

  • Paramaribo90
  • Sipaliwini32
  • Commewijne24
  • Para23
  • Nickerie12
  • Wanica9
  • Brokopondo5
  • Coronie2
  • Saramacca2

Districts with at least one record that has coordinates. Shaded districts have records.

Records by month

All years combined.

Sources & credits

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Related species in Suriname