| The rhinoceros iguana is more commonly referred to | | | | will defend a specific bush it has deemed its food |
| as cyclura comuta which is its binomial name. An | | | | source from other iguanas. This particular habit |
| iguana closely related to the rhinoceros iguana is the | | | | indicates the territorial nature of this iguana. |
| Galapagos marine iguana. It is most commonly found | | | | Eating and basking under sunlight are the two main |
| in North America and it generally occupies dry tropical | | | | activities that take up most of the iguana's time. The |
| forests mainly those in the Hispaniola Island and in the | | | | iguanas then withdraw into their caves, burrows or |
| Caribbean Sea. An iguana deemed to be extinct has | | | | hollow trunks during the night. The role of defenders |
| been sighted on Navassa Island. This particular iguana | | | | of territories is taken up by the male rhinoceros |
| is related to the rhinoceros iguana. | | | | iguana. It is commonly found on top of large rocks |
| Some Important facts about the rhinoceros iguana. | | | | and tall trees on which they sunbathe. The male |
| 1. Physical Attributes. | | | | rhinoceros iguana is very territorial and is aggressive |
| This iguana is known for its great power. It is quite | | | | towards other male iguanas. The head-bob is a signal |
| robust and has a body covered with a rigid row of | | | | used by the rhinoceros iguanas to communicate |
| spines. The long length of its legs allows it to walk | | | | between them. |
| without its body touching the ground. Its color is | | | | 4. Reproduction among the Rhinoceros Iguana. |
| grey-brown. An adult male rhinoceros iguana can | | | | The rhinoceros iguana mates during spring in the later |
| weigh up to ten kilograms and have a length of up to | | | | part of May. This is also prior to the commencement |
| fifty-six centimeters. | | | | of the rainy season. The females lay up to 34 eggs |
| Epidermal scales on the skin of the rhinoceros iguana | | | | and thus build tunnels approximately one meter in |
| give it a rough texture. Enlarged scales on the head | | | | length for them. Egg laying typically occurs at an |
| of some of them resemble horns and hence the root | | | | earlier period. Hatching of eggs begins after an |
| of the word rhino in its name. The male possess | | | | interval of up to six months. The hatchlings are |
| much bigger horns than females and are also | | | | thought of as tree-dwellers although they often |
| correspondingly larger in body size. This feature can | | | | follow their parents. Their life span could reach up to |
| also be used to help distinguish the male from the | | | | thirty years, but they more commonly die after |
| female. | | | | twenty odd years. However, their stage of maturity |
| 2. Lifestyle and Diet of the Rhinoceros Iguana. | | | | is evident after only three years. |
| Iguanas are primarily herbivores. Their diet mainly | | | | In a similar way to other iguanas, a rhinoceros iguana |
| consists of fruits, flowers, leaves and seeds although | | | | will use sunlight to regulate the temperatures of its |
| this diet may vary based on the current season. | | | | body. In earlier days, the rhinoceros iguana was a |
| They may from time to time consume insects, land | | | | source food for man. In contrast, it is kept as a pet |
| crabs and even carrion. Small animals and insects are | | | | these days by many people and is rarely hunted or |
| often eaten by young iguanas. The rhinoceros iguana | | | | bred for consumption purposes. |