How Many Different Species of Iguanas Are There?
There are over 30 species of iguanas which belong to the class Reptilia. Depending on the species, iguanas’ habitats range from swamps and lowlands to deserts and rainforests. Iguanas are organized into nine broader categories of species: the Galapagos marine iguanas, Fiji iguanas, Galapagos land iguanas, thorntail iguanas, spiny-tailed iguanas, rock iguanas, desert iguanas, green iguanas, and chuckwallas.
Green Iguana
The green iguana, also known as the American iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana.
Scientific name: Iguana iguana
Length: 12 – 17 in. (Head to the base of the tail)
Clutch size: 20 – 71
Family: Iguanidae
Mass: Male: 8.8 lbs (Large Adult), Female: 2.6 – 6.6 lbs (Large Adult)
Did you know: Green iguanas have developed a lateral nasal gland to supplement renal salt secretion by expelling excess potassium and sodium chloride.
Blue Iguana
The blue iguana, also known as the Grand Cayman ground iguana, Grand Cayman blue iguana or Cayman Island rock iguana, is an endangered species of lizard endemic to the island of Grand Cayman.
Mass: 31 lbs
Length: 1.7 – 2.5 ft. (Without Tail)
Tail length: 1.7 – 2.5 ft.
Scientific name: Cyclura lewisi
Did you know: The blue iguana is the largest native land animal on Grand Cayman with a total nose-to-tail length of 5 ft (1.5 m) and weighing as much as 30 lb (14 kg). wikipedia.org
Rhinoceros Iguana
The rhinoceros iguana is a threatened species of lizard in the family Iguanidae that is primarily found on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, shared by the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Scientific name: Cyclura cornuta
Higher classification: Cyclura
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Did you know: The Mona ground iguana’s specific name, cornuta, is the feminine form of the Latin adjective cornutus, meaning “horned” and refers to the horned projections on the snouts of males of the species. wikipedia.org
Cuban Rock Iguana
The Cuban rock iguana, also known as the Cuban ground iguana or Cuban iguana, is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas, one of the most endangered groups of lizards.
Scientific name: Cyclura nubila
Higher classification: Cyclura
Kingdom: Animalia
Did you know: The Cuban iguana’s eyes have a golden iris and the sclera is red, giving it the appearance of having a hangover. reptilesmagazine.com
Spiny-Tailed Iguanas
Ctenosaura is a lizard genus commonly known as spiny-tail iguanas. The genus is part of the large lizard family, Iguanidae and is native to Mexico and Central America. The name is derived from two Greek words: ctenos, meaning “comb”, and saura, meaning “lizard”.
Scientific name: Ctenosaura
Phylum: Chordata
Higher classification: Iguanids
Chuckwalla Iguana
Chuckwallas are large lizards found primarily in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Some are found on coastal islands. The six species of chuckwallas are all placed within the genus Sauromalus; they are part of the iguanid family, Iguanidae.
Scientific name: Sauromalus
Higher classification: Iguanids
Did you know: Chuckwallas are stocky, wide-bodied lizards with flattened midsections and prominent bellies. wikipedia.org
Desert Iguana
The desert iguana is one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They also occur on several Gulf of California islands. Their color is mostly grey and tan.
Mass: 2.5 oz (Large Adult) Encyclopedia of Life
Scientific name: Dipsosaurus dorsalis
Phylum: Chordata
Higher classification: Dipsosaurus
Did you know: Desert iguanas are mostly found in the arid regions of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, south eastern California and Mexico. petponder.com
Marine Iguana
The marine iguana, also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galápagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile.
Mass: 1.1 – 3.3 lbs
Scientific name: Amblyrhynchus cristatus
Length: Female: 2 – 3.3 ft. (Large Adult)
Conservation status: Vulnerable Encyclopedia of Life
Phylum: Chordata
Did you know: Researchers theorize that land iguanas (genus Conolophus) and marine iguanas evolved from a common ancestor since arriving on the islands from Central or South America, presumably by rafting. wikipedia.org
Fiji Iguana
The Fiji banded iguana is an arboreal species of lizard endemic to some of the southeastern Fijian islands. It is found in Tonga, where it was probably introduced by humans.
Scientific name: Brachylophus fasciatus
Phylum: Chordata
Higher classification: Brachylophus