Rhinoceros Iguana
Basic Information:
Scientific Name: Cyclura cornuta
Habitat: While rhinoceros iguanas can be found throughout Hispaniola, they are primarily found of Isla Beata and the Barahona Peninsula.
Diet: Rhinoceros iguanas are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, flowers, berries, and fruits.
Size: 2 to 4.5 feet long
Weight: 10 to 20 pounds
Lifespan: 16 to 17 years in the wild. Up to 20 years in human care.
Distribution Map:
I.U.C.N. Conservation Status:
What does this mean?
Vulnerable – a species determined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (I.U.C.N.) to possess a high risk of extinction as a result of rapid population declines of 30 to more than 50 percent over the previous 10 years (or three generations), a current population size of fewer than 1,000 individuals, or other factors.
Our Rhinoceros Iguanas:
Blackfoot (Male) – Born November 30, 1997
Stubby (Female) – Born December 3, 1997
Did You Know?!
- Rhino iguanas get their name because of horn-like structures that are found on the heads of males. It is not known if these structures serve any purpose, but may aid in courtship.
- Male iguanas go through elaborate courtship behaviors of head bobbing and erecting the spines along the back. Normally, iguanas are quite timid and will flee if approached, but during courtship the males can be quite aggressive.
- Rhino iguanas are much more terrestrial than the green iguanas which allows them to live in rockier and drier areas. They are rarely found in trees or even forested areas.