Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

OTHER NAMES: American Iguana, Common Green Iguana 
Latin Etymology: Iguana (from name in Taino language) iguana (from name in Taino language)

Adult male Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) in breeding colours at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Iguana iguana iguana
Weight: 1.2-4kg  /  Length: cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Perhaps the most iconic of all lizard species, the green iguana is a very widespread species found natively from Mexico to the Northern edge of Argentina, as well as non-native populations in locations such as Florida, the Caribbean and South East Asia. It is among the very largest of all lizards by both length and weight, exceeded by only a few of the largest monitors in length.  They are primarily herbiovorous, though will occassionally consume other foods depending on availability. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Squamata 
Family: Iguanidae 
Genus: Iguana
SUBSPECIES: I. i. iguana, I. i. insularis, I. i. melanoderma, I. i. sanctaliciae 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A common resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and San Jose

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)

OTHER NAMES: Black Iguana
Latin Etymology: Ctenosaura ("comb back lizard") similis ("similar")

 

Adult Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Ctenosaura similis similis
Weight: 1-2kg  /  Length: 1.3cm  
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest member of the genus Ctenosaura found widely in lowland Coastal regions from the Yucatan to Panama. Primarily herbivorous, they eat most parts of plants, but will opportunistically take smaller animals too. Impressively, they are one of the few animals to eat machineel - a tree of which every part is very toxic to most species. They are considered the fastest lizard in the world and capable of running at 21mph. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Squamata 
Family: Iguanidae 
Genus: Ctenosaura
SUBSPECIES: C. s similis, C. s. multipunctata
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 

Common in Pacific Lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Carara 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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