Why Green Iguanas Are Remarkable Creatures

[@glenngriffon8032]

I'll never forget our greens. Mom had one named Bud that she would frequently take out into the yard to graze on clover. One time mom was pointing out some to the little guy and he accidentally bit her, chomped right down on her finger and instantly let go and pulled his head back. He refused to eat any more clover while she had him outside. We had a second one that belonged to my half brother but she decided that she liked me more. I was only 17 or so and I was the only person she would let in her enclosure. Mom, dad, my half brother, they all learned firsthand how dangerous that whip tail is. But me? She'd come right to me when I called her and she would sit in my lap like a cat and let me pet her.

[@museumofscience]

What cool memories with these fantastic animals! Thank you for sharing!

[@anabella4166]

I live in South Florida so my backyard is full of these guys and I’ve seen the nasty results of that bite and tail whip. I saw a girl get her forearm sliced DEEP from a tail whip.. but again, she was messing with it.

[@museumofscience]

These are very well-adapted animals for their lifestyles! It's probably best to not mess with these animals, especially in the wild!

[@user-Aaron-]

Why does he keep licking the floor like that?

[@DrakonBlake]

Probably sniffing with their tongue, as plenty of if not most reptiles I know of do

[@user-Aaron-]

@@DrakonBlake I'm not very familiar with most reptiles so I don't really know but both the tongue itself and the behaviour on display seem quite different from say, snakes, who most definitely use their forked tongues to "smell" the air. If I had to guess I'd say the iguana seems to be exploring its new environment and using its tongue more like a finger or an elephant's trunk than a nose but 🤷‍♂️ It's an interesting behaviour though and I plan on looking into it more!

[@DrakonBlake]

@@user-Aaron- Elephants also use their trunks to smell and possibly for other sensory things besides touch. Edit: But I think I know what you’re getting at. Jumping and other spiders also have interesting sensory things. Essentially they’re covered in sensory hairs, and I’ve seen jumping spiders wave their front most pair of legs around as if trying to sense their environment. And as far as I know, that’s what they’re doing.

[@museumofscience]

Iguanas use their tongues to help smell their environment! Iggy is trying to understand the surroundings a little better.

[@user-Aaron-]

@@museumofscience Thanks!

[@Danny_unknown]

Naming an iguana Iggy same as naming a human hummy

[@museumofscience]

See Iggy the iguana at the Museum in Survival of the Slowest! Learn more: bit.ly/3AshgZS

[@Luvyababoolall]

I have 1 but a baby

[@museumofscience]

How cute! Thank you for sharing!

[@Luvyababoolall]

@@museumofscience wow you actually replied no way

[@Luvyababoolall]

Im subbed​@@museumofscience

[@Mark-gs6nn]

I had a 4 ft iguana as a teenager we had a pretty nice size pen built in the basement for him He's a jump out of his own little pen to poop and pee on the floor never in his pen. he would shimmy on over to my bedroom i lived in a basement and jump up on the bed with me and hang out and watch TV.

[@KitanaShade]

A iguana whip tail is strong

[@museumofscience]

They're well-adapted wild animals!

[@kiyoi123]

Iggy is special But now I am scared of his tail. But u said iguanas has high intelligence Does that mean our pats like dog cattle cat are less intelligent than iguanas?

[@glenngriffon8032]

@@kiyoi123 from my personal experience with these animals I'd say their intelligence is about on par with a cat or dog. Some are more intelligent and others notsomuch. They have personalities and they have the ability to recognize people as well as to make up their own minds who they like and don't like. But they are a lot harder to care for than a dog or cat. You need a large enclosure for them to grow in, they require warm rocks to lay on, uv lights to lay under, special diet, they need stuff to climb on and stuff to hide in, you have to associate with them daily so they recognize you and know you. You'll have to take them outside for natural sunlight daily but be careful they don't overheat. They are awesome animals but an astonishing responsibility

[@eddie___hahn]

Kachowwwwww

[@LocalCostcoDrawing]

I promise you if an iguana run up on me I will remove it from existence.