The green iguana is one of the most common species of lizards whose initial range covers the tropical regions of the western hemisphere from southern Mexico (the states of Sinaloa and Veracruz) south to central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, east to The Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea – mainly Grenada, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent, Utility and Aruba. In addition, in the second half of the 20th century, lizards were introduced to the island of Grand Cayman, to Puerto Rico, the American and British Virgin Islands, the continental states of Florida and Texas, and to Hawaii.
Habitats – diverse biotopes with dense woody vegetation, mainly wet tropical forests, but also semi-moist forests, mangroves and dry, open sea coast areas. Most of his life spends on trees, usually growing along the banks of slowly flowing rivers. Iguanas are active only during the daytime. Cool nights they spend on thick branches in the middle and lower tier of trees, but with sunrise they try to climb higher, where they warm for a long time – sunbaths increase body temperature, and ultraviolet radiation produces vitamin D, which helps digestion. Only after a few hours of glory the reptiles go in search of food down in the crown. In inclement or cool weather the animal keeps on the surface of the earth – so it better preserves the internal heat.
Excellent lasalschik, the lizard can fall from a height of up to 15 m to the ground and not break (with the fall of the iguana trying to catch the claws of the hind limbs behind the foliage). The lizard also swims well, while the body keeps completely immersed in water and paws pulls along the trunk, and moves with the help of meandering movements of the tail.
