reptile · CR

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

Overview

Basking in the crowns of trees along slow rivers.

A big male green iguana is two meters of dinosaur theater, whip tail included, in colors that despite the name run from green through orange to slate, crowned with a spiny crest and a solar panel's confidence. They are the most visible large reptile in Costa Rica, stacked along riverside branches, because basking above water is a survival strategy: threatened, an iguana simply falls, crashes through the canopy, and swims off underwater like it planned the whole thing. A third light-sensing organ on the top of the skull, the parietal eye, watches the sky for hawk-shaped shadows while the real eyes mind everything else. Adults are almost entirely vegetarian, which surprises everyone.

Behaviour

Basks communally, males defending display branches with head-bobs and dewlap flags. Cold snaps literally drop them from trees.

Diet

Leaves, flowers and fruit; juveniles add insects while growing. The digestive flora that handles the foliage is picked up by eating elders' droppings.

Photography

River-edge trees in mid-morning sun; a low angle across the water gets crest, dewlap and reflection in one frame. Watch for the head-bob display.

Ethics

Skip any roadside stall offering iguana handling, and never feed wild ones; both feed a capture trade the species does not need.

Where you'll find them

Generalised encounter areas, not exact locations. Each shape is a grid cell coloured by how likely the species is there.

Costa Rica
10 km zone · high confidence · 132 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 15 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 21 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 28 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 23 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 12 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · high confidence · 110 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 20 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 13 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · high confidence · 64 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 50 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 37 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 37 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 31 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 31 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 28 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 27 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 22 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 19 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Very likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 18 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 16 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 15 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 14 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 12 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 11 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 10 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 9 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 8 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Likely
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 7 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 6 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 5 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 4 records · updated 1 day ago
Possible
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Uncommon
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare
Costa Rica
10 km zone · medium confidence · 3 records · updated 1 day ago
Rare