Iguanas

Who is that by our pool side? A dinosaur? Looks like one! If you will enlarge an iguana 20 times, you’ll get a prehistoric reptile (Bactrosaurus, possibly). Please don’t run away! Although those guys look scary, they will not attack you. They are vegetarians, grass and leaves is their main food (not humans!); and they are very calm and peaceful. Can you imagine that these out-of-horror-movie looking monsters are called ‘Bamboo Chicken’? Ok, why not? The Ancient Maya incorporated the iguana to the level of a god and it was known as “Itzamna”, that was related to water and the underworld.

Iguanas have keen sense of smelling and seeing, since they are able to find their favorite fruits, berries, flowers and leaves with ease, Iguanas always choose some of the tallest canopy trees along the rivers to sun themselves, which may lead to some physical or territorial rustling, especially with the larger or alpha males. This dispute is sometimes settled by vigorous head bobbing, and extending the large loose skin folds along their chin line which is called dewlap. During the early morning, Iguanas are very slow-moving, almost lethargic. They are cold-blooded and need warm temperature (over 80 degrees F / 27 °C). If the air does not get warm the Iguana will stay hidden in a dry place where it can conserve energy. They will also only consume food when the temperature is warm, since the food will then be better digested. Iguanas can also withstand several days without feeding if they are stressed or if temperature is not suitable.

Iguanas frequent the territory of Black Orchid Resort and all our guests enjoy watching them walking around

In the world where the rule is either… eat… or be eaten, the iguana has some special defenses that will surprise the unwary attacker or intruder, and it is not a matter of using fangs with venom or powerful jaws. They are super agile, excellent swimmers, and their green color makes them the master of disguise of their territory. High in the utmost parts of the canopies and trees that overhang the rivers, they are hard to reach by some but an easy catch for others, as most of the locals in the villages consume the iguana as a part of their culture and recreation. Being the fact that they are solely vegetarians, the iguana risks threats from all directions. One of the first defenses is to remain motionless and lie low as possible, relying on their dark coloration to camouflage themselves. If this defense does not work, iguana may use its highly flexible, long, strong tail to swirl after its attacker. A hit may surely discourage it from being eaten. Sometimes these tactics may not work and so the iguana’s final option may be to leap from its perch and dive straight down, belly first into the cool, green waters of the rivers that flow below. The iguana’s silhouette may be visible only for a few seconds, but then completely disappears into the watery world where it may remain for almost an hour, only to appear head first along the river bank and slowly crawl back up into the trees.

You can see iguanas very often at the Black Orchid Resort - on the trees, in the grass or by poolside.