The Iguana is a family of lizard that is native to many parts of the World ranging from the Caribbean to the Pacific Islands where many different types of Iguana can be found.
The scientific name for the Iguana family is called Iguanidae. This is a large family with 15 different genera of Iguanas.
There are many different types of Iguana. In fact, the family contains 176 different species and over 100 more sub-species at the time of writing.
With such a huge range of species out there we are only going to focus on a small number of the more popular species of Iguana.
Types of Iguana
The types of Iguana we have selected for this list include popular pet lizards, commonly encountered species in the wild and others are just awesome Iguanas.
Green Iguana
At the top of every Iguana list, you are going to find the Green Iguana. This lizard is popular in captivity, zoos and is also very commonly seen within their geographical range.
This is a large arboreal lizard that will spend most of its time in trees but can also be found sunbathing on the ground or swimming in water.
The Green Iguana can grow to around 4 or 5 feet in length including the tail. Despite their name, they can actually vary in color from green to shades of blue, lavender and red.
Males are typically bigger and heavier than females and have large spikes running along their back and a large dewlap.
Their range extends from much of South America, through Central America and up into Mexico. There are introduced populations in places such as Puerto Rico and Southern Florida.
Cuban Rock Iguana
The Cuban Rock Iguanas are among the most popular types of Iguana. These lizards are native to parts of the Caribbean in countries such as Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
It is a large species that can reach up to 5ft in length, including the tail. They can also weigh up to 15lbs or around 7kg.
These lizards can also be found on thousands of small rocky islands that surround Cuba. One of these, Isla de la Juventud, has one of the most established populations of these Iguanas.
The Cayman Island Ground Iguana, which is a sub-species of Cuban Rock Iguana can be found on the Cayman Islands.
Black Spiny Tailed Iguana
The Black Spiny Tailed Iguana is a large species of Lizard that is native to parts of Mexico and Central America in countries such as Costa Rica and Honduras.
They are one of the most common types of Iguana in their region and can grow to over 4 feet in length including their tail.
They are typically light to dark grey or tan in color and have black keeled scales on their tail which is how they got their common name.
It is a more terrestrial species, spending most of its time on the ground. However, they will sometimes climb to bask on overhanging trees or among large rocks.
Fijian Bandes Iguana
The Fijian Banded Iguana is one of the most beautiful types of Iguana in the world. These lizards have a bright green coloration with light blue or white patterning.
It is easy to tell the difference between mature males and females as the females are solid green in color while the males have the blue patterning coming through.
These lizards are native to the island of Fiji making them one of the only species of Iguana that is not native to the Americas.
They typically grow to less than 3 feet in length including the tail and usually weigh around 1.8kg.
Types of Iguana – Desert Iguana
The Desert Iguana is a unique species of Iguana. Their appearance and habits are very different to other types of Iguana as they have adapted to living in the desert.
These lizards can be found in some of the arid regions of the South-Western United States. They can be found in California, Nevada and Arizona as well as the Sonora Desert in Mexico.
They are typically grey, light brown or tan in color. They have a darker brown or rusty red colored pattern on their back. This coloration helps them blend into their desert background.
It would be easy for a casual observer to overlook this Iguana as a different type of lizard as they don’t have the characteristic dewlaps or spikes that many other Iguana species possess.
Rhinoceros Iguana
The Rhinoceros Iguana is one of the most unique and easily recognized types of Iguana in the world.
They have a typical Iguana appearance with a large dewlap, long tail and spikes running along their back. However, they also have a bony horn-like appendage that grows from its snout.
The Rhinoceros Iguana is native to the Caribbean and can be found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as well as some of the smaller surrounding islands.
They can grow up to 5 feet in length and are a strong muscular lizard. While they are very good climbers, they will spend most of their time on the ground among the rocks.
Types of Iguana – Marine Iguana
The Marine Iguana is a species of marine lizard that is only found around the Galapagos Islands off the Coast of Equador.
These lizards are expert swimmers and dive to the ocean floor in search of algae which makes up the vast majority of their diet.
These lizards live in large groups or colonies and spend most of the day basking among the rocks. Once warm, they will dive into the ocean in search of food.
This species is also referred to as the Sea Iguana, Saltwater Iguana and the Galapagos Marine Iguana.
Types of Iguana – Blue Iguana
The Blue Iguana which used to be considered a sub-species of Cuban Iguana is native to parts of the Caribbean.
This is one of the most stunning types of Iguana with their large size and impressive coloration. They can vary in color from grey to light blue to a stunning turquoise blue color.
They are sometimes referred to as the Cayman Island Rock Iguana or the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana.
It is one of the largest species of lizard in the Western Hemisphere with a total length of around 5 feet including the tail. They are also heavy bodied, weighting up to 14 kg.
These lizards prefer to spend most of their time on the ground among the rocks but they are also well able to climb. They have articulated toes which help them to dig.
