Hey Wild Fact Fans, Seth here with the new Friday Feature creature. Don’t forget to please like, share and comment questions down below If you have any on this weeks animal ^^
This weeks feature creature is a lean, green , chillaxed but sometimes tough and mean mini godzilla of latin america that has also invaded the sunshine 
state thru the exotic pet trade. Whether scaling thru the trees 
, swimming with ease thru the water, and stalking thru rainforests and swamps it calls home like a tiny dinosaur ; this incredible reptile survives despite the many predators that hunt them ; thanks to many tricks and abilities it has to survive.
This weeks feature creature is the Green Iguana 
1. Measuring in at 7ft long and weighing in at 15 to 20lbs for males (females being half the size) Green iguanas are one of the largest lizards in the americas and of the Iguana family. They can live to be 10 years old in the wild
2. While theyre called “Green” iguanas, they do come in many mixed color hue varieties with their green ; including blue, black , brown and orange. these different color morphs often depend on their location / region. Some Green iguanas can even be Albino!
3. Green iguanas are extreme daredevils; as they are agile climbers, great jumpers and can fall up to 60ft without sustaining an injury! They often leap from trees into water 
to escape predators.
4. Camo, speed and using their teeth and claws as weapons are the main defenses they have against predators.
5. Green iguanas are amazing swimmers 
; as they use their strong tails to propel themselves through the water . They dive deep underwater to hide from danger 
and can hold their breath for a half an hour!
6. Green Iguanas are mainly vegetarians as adults that mainly eat fruit 
, leaves 
, & flowers 
. While adults sometimes eat meat, mainly young iguanas will also eat insects 
, eggs 
and small vertebrates on occasion. Young ones will even eat poo 
of adults to get bacteria 
they need to digest the plants 
they’ll eat when they’ll get older.
7. Iguanas can store fat in their lower jaw and neck for lean times and spread seeds of plants thru their dung to help grow new ones
8. Along with great eyesight & color vision
, Green iguanas have a rudimentary third eye on the top of their head known as a ‘pineal eye’, which is sensitive to changes in light levels and movement. This helps give them an early warning 
if a predator tries to sneak up on them.
9. Green iguanas have a flap of skin hanging from their chin called a ‘dewlap’. Movement of the dewlap is a method of communication between iguanas; along with being used to impress females during the mating season and to scare off enemies.
10. Their spiky crests and back spines helps protect it from predators such as wild cats such as ocelots, wild dogs, coatis, raccoons , monkeys 
, snakes 
, birds of prey , crocodiles & gators 
. Some people even hunt and cook green iguanas !
11. An iguana’s tail is a very important feature for survival. Along with using them to swim, they use it to keep balance in the trees 
, to defend themselves from predators, and can even detach it to elude predators as well!
12. Green iguanas are solitary animals that only come together to mate. Males establish a territory that’s usually in an area with branches and close to water. He will defend it from rival males, and attempt to attract females who move through it.
13. Females can lay clutches of 20 to 71 eggs once a year. females will dig 
multiple burrows with their sharp claws but only put her eggs in one to confuse predators. Once the female lays the eggs, she will leave and never return to parent the babies as they’ll be independent as soon as they hatch in 3 to 4 months and even remain in a small group before leaving on their own.
14. Like plenty of reptiles, Green iguana hatchlings have a special tooth 
called a ‘caruncle’ that is used for breaking through the shell of their egg . It falls off shortly after hatching.
15. While florida seems like a good home 
for them; its cooler temps can be a danger to them; as they can freeze 
up and fall from trees . These invasive lizards cause plenty of problems in florida.
16. While voiceless, they can emit loud, gurgling hisses if cornered. Most times though; theyre pretty chill 
and laid back lizards that just wanna be left alone. Basically pretty peaceful 
Next weeks feature Creature hint 
: this cool reptile is also a master of camouflage; but lacks limbs and prefers the scorching 
deserts 
of the middle east. Plus this horned devils bite is far more deadly than an iguana’s.
