Facts about Spiny-tailed Iguana
- 09
The spiny-tailed iguana holds a Guinness World Record as the fastest-running lizard, having been recorded sprinting at speeds of approximately 21 miles per hour.
- 08
Spiny-tailed iguanas possess an omnivorous diet that shifts dramatically from insects and carrion in juveniles to predominantly herbivorous plant consumption in adults, reflecting their changing nutritional needs.
- 07
Throughout their range in Mexico and Central America, spiny-tailed iguanas have become increasingly urbanized, frequently inhabiting buildings and archaeological sites where they scavenge human food scraps.
- 06
Ctenosaura similis can live 20 years or more in captivity, making them one of the longest-lived lizard species in their size range.
- 05
Females of Ctenosaura similis lay clutches of 5 to 19 eggs in burrows or tree cavities, with hatchlings emerging after approximately 75 to 90 days of incubation.
- 04
Territorial males of Ctenosaura similis establish dominance hierarchies through head-bobbing displays and dorsal crest extensions that can increase their perceived body size by up to 20 percent.
- 03
Spiny-tailed iguanas possess specialized salt glands in their nostrils that allow them to excrete excess salt consumed from their primarily herbivorous diet of desert plants.
- 02
Central American spiny-tailed iguanas inhabit arid regions and can tolerate extreme heat by basking on sun-exposed rocks reaching temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 01
Measuring up to 39 inches in total length, the spiny-tailed iguana possesses a distinctively serrated tail that comprises roughly half its body mass.