Nature Field Guide
Green Iguana
- Spanish name
- Iguana verde
- Scientific name
- Iguana iguana
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico and Tati invite you to learn about the green iguana. Sketch the outline of a distant iguana. Compare its throat fan with the spiny-tailed iguana card.
Species overview
About the Green Iguana
A large tree-climbing lizard with a throat fan and a row of spines along its back. Green iguanas eat mainly plant material; their color can also include brown or orange.
Identification
Key Features of the Green Iguana
Large hanging throat fan.
Long tail and a row of dorsal spines.
Large round scale below the ear opening.
Habitat & range
Lowland forests and wooded waterways on both Costa Rican slopes.
Local observations
Recorded in Costa Rica. This profile describes suitable habitat, not a confirmed Tamarindo sighting or a guaranteed viewing location.
When to observe
Daytime, when resting or basking on branches.
Conservation & care
Watch wildlife with an adult from a safe path. Do not touch, feed, capture or move reptiles, and keep pets away. Leave eggs, shelters and vegetation undisturbed.
Observation activity
Sketch the outline of a distant iguana. Compare its throat fan with the spiny-tailed iguana card.
Explore by location
Caribbean · Central Pacific · Guanacaste · Northern Plains · Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · South Pacific