Appearance:
Males have prominent dorsal crests and small dewlaps (skin flaps beneath the chin), while females do not display distinct crests. The lizard derives its name from the pointed spines that run along its tail.
Size:
- Length
- Adult: Males measure up to 18 inches (snout to vent), with 18-inch tails. Females are smaller.
- Neonate: 4 – 5 inches long
- Weight
- Adult: Up to 2 pounds
- Neonate: Under 100 grams
Diet:
Primarily herbivorous, spiny-tailed iguanas eat legume fruits. Their carnivorous diet consists of small animals. Juvenile iguanas have a heavy insectivorous diet.
Reproduction:
Iguanas reach sexual maturity at 3 – 4 years of age. Their breeding season runs from May through August. After the female has signaled her receptivity, courtship begins with the male biting, scratching or licking her.
Behavior:
These lizards are predominantly terrestrial rather than arboreal, forming colonies where they collaborate to spot predators and sleep together on branches.
Iguanas exhibit a strict hierarchical system, led by a dominant male. Other males establish and defend their own territories, except for the leader. They can display aggression by using their spiny tails to strike opponents. When there’s a need for speed, they can switch from four- to two-footed locomotion when running. Reaching speeds of up to 21.5 mph, the spiny-tail iguana is recorded as the world’s fastest lizard.
Their communication involves color changes, body inflation, jaw gaping, push-ups, head bobbing, biting, and tail thrashing, often observed during territorial defense. Additionally, iguanas engage in mutual tongue licking, grooming, and body and chin rubbing.
Habitat/Range:
Spiny-tailed iguanas are found in Mexico, parts of Central America, and Islands adjacent to Panama. The subspecies C. hemilopha, in particular, is found in Baja California Sur (Mexico), and C. conspicuosa is found in San Esteban Island.
Median Life Expectancy:
15 years in the wild
Threats:
This species is threatened by habitat loss caused by agricultural activities. They also face threats from hunting for both consumption and medicinal purposes, as well as predation by free-roaming domestic cats and dogs.
