Iguanas (Iguanidae family of Lizards)
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Iguanas are fully limbed lizards that use their large tongues to capture and gather food. The Iguanidae family includes the genera: Amblyrhynchus, Brachylophus, Conolophus, Ctenosaura, Cyclura, Dipsosaurus, Iguana and Sauromalus.
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COMMON IGUANA (GREEN IGUANA)
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|  | Iguana iguana
| Growing to as long as 180cm (6 feet), the Green Iguana or Common Iguana is a strictly vegetarian arboreal lizard, generally found near watercourses throughout the northern parts of South America and into Mexico. Some have also been introduced into southern areas of the USA.
The bright green colour dulls with age and males generally have larger heads, scales and dewlaps - the loose flap of skin under the chin.
STATUS: COMMON
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Image: David Warwick (Taronga Zoo Exhibit - May 2005)
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FIJIAN CRESTED IGUANA
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| | Brachylophus vitiensis
| Only discovered by naturalist John Gibbons in 1979, this arboreal species is only found on a few small islands in Fiji. A large and powerfully built lizard, the larger male can reach lengths of around 1 metre. The Fijian Crested Iguana has three narrow white bands crossing its back, when threatened, its colour changes rapidly from green to black and it bobs its head in an agressive manner. Surviving in very small numbers this is a highly at risk species with a viable population existing only on the 70 hectare island of Yaduataba. Fossils of a 5 metre long Iguanid have been found in Fiji, however it became extinct soon after human colonization some 3,000 years ago.
STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (IUCN Red List)
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Image: David Warwick (National Zoo and Aquarium Exhibit Canberra - Sept 2005)
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RHINOCEROS IGUANA (ROCK IGUANA)
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| | Cyclura cornuta
| One of the larger Iguanas, the Rhinoceros Iguana can grow to around 120cm (48in) in length and weigh around 10kg. Sometimes known as the Hispaniolan Rhino Iguana, it is only found on the island of Hispaniola and although protected, it is still poached and numbers have become threatened. Usually preferring coastal regions, much of the surviving population has been forced inland by human expansion. In captivity the Rhinoceros Iguana may live for up to 20 years.
STATUS: VULNERABLE (IUCN Red List)
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Image: David Warwick (Australia Zoo Exhibit - Sept 2006)
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