Green iguana

Why is it important to report green iguana sightings?

Green iguana is not native to Australia and have the potential to populate a wide range landscapes in NSW impacting the environment.

This lizard:

• can carry salmonella bacteria which can affect humans, other mammals and birds
• carry other exotic diseases that could harm our native reptiles
• digs deep burrows that can undermine sidewalks, seawalls and foundations
• displace other native species by utilising their burrows
• compete with native species for food and shelter
• can overgraze native flora and spread weed seeds
• if feeling threatened can bite and scratch dogs, cats and people inflicting injury through a powerful slap with their tail.

Description

Green iguanas originate from Mexico to central Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia and the Carribean. They are a tree dwelling lizard that is generally found near water.

Green iguanas are a large lizard:

• that grows 1.5-2 m long from head to tail and generally weighs 4-6 kg
• with a long, tapering, variably ringed tail that can be variable in colour including green to grey-green, bluish-green with bold black markings, lavender, black or reddish to orange
• with a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat (called a dewlap which is larger in males)
• with spines running from neck to tail (in adults)
• that have a set of large scales on each side of the head.

Behaviour

Green Iguanas are mostly herbivores that are often found in trees however, preferring to stay on the ground in cold wet weather.

Breeding

Green iguanas:

• start breeding when they are 3-4 years old
• lay clutches of 20-70 eggs each year in burrows
• eggs hatch 90- 120 days after being laid and are not protected by adults
• are about 17-25 cm long when they hatch and look like the adult lizard without the spines along the back
• stay in family groups for the first year.

This lizard is traded globally and could be a part of the illegal pet trade in NSW. It is illegal to keep this animal without authorisation in NSW.