09/14/2021
A reddish-brown Green iguana photographed in Costa Rica.
The Green iguana (Iguana iguana), also known as the American iguana, is a large, arboreal, species of lizard occuring throughout Central and South America and also the Caribbean region. Despite their name, the color of an individual may vary depending on its region, mood, temperature, health, or social status.
In southern countries like Peru, Green iguanas appear bluish in colour, with bold blue markings while on islands like Bonaire and Grenada, its color may vary from green to lavender, black, and even reddish brown. In the western region of Costa Rica they are red, while in Mexico, they appear orange.
As well, such color adaptation help these reptiles in thermoregulation. In the morning, the skin color is darker, which helps the animals to absorb heat from sunlight. At mid-day when the hot sun radiates upon them, they turn lighter to reflect the sun rays and reduce the heat absorbed. Also, males may acquire a bright orange or gold hue during the breeding season, although coloration is still related to dominance status.
📷 Petr Bambousek
(Photographer's portfolio in comment)