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Known for their vibrant colors and dragon-style faces, iguanas are a mainstay in many tropical locations. While these reptiles are generally harmless to humans, they can also be a nuisance, often infiltrating homes and hiding under or on furniture. Below, we have listed the seven largest genera of iguanas (and the selected species containing the largest specimen) based on measurements from the tip of the head to the tip of the tail.
7. Chakwallas (savromal)
- 5 types
- Largest: San Esteban Chaqualla
- Dimensions: 76 cm (2.5 feet).
These desert iguanas look like the smaller Komodo dragons with loose folds of tough skin covered with fine scales. They are stocky, broad-bodied, and can be reddish-pink, orange, yellow, or light gray. There are five existing chaquallas species in the southwestern United States and Mexico, some of which are endemic to some islands such as Angela Island and the Santa Catalina chaquallas. Chakvallas prefer warm and dry environments, lava flows and rocky areas. These iguanas are mostly herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits and flowers, but are known to occasionally eat insects to supplement their diet. Chakwallas even hibernate during the colder months of the year, unlike many of their tropical counterparts. The name “chakvalla” is Indian in origin. It was translated from Shoshone into Spanish as “chacauala”.
6. Melanesian iguanas (brachyloph)
- 4 types
- The largest crested iguana in Fiji.
- Dimensions: (2.6 feet) 80 cm.
Similar in size to the Chakwallas, Melanesian iguanas are made up of four distinct species, of which the Fiji crested iguana is the largest. Nearly all Melanesian iguanas are listed as endangered by the IUCN, with many populations confined to one or two islands in the Southwest Pacific. Since 2008, Fiji has implemented recovery plans for several species of iguanas with varying degrees of success. The increase in funding has allowed scientists to better understand the threats and populations, but many of the objectives of the recovery plan remain unfinished.
The Greek name for the genus Melanesian iguanas is brachyloph; “Brachys” means short, and “lophos” means ridge or plume, referring to the spiny combs found on iguanas. They appear in a variety of colors and are among the most geographically isolated iguana species found in the world. There are competing theories about how they even managed to get to the Fijian archipelago, although there is some consensus on the idea that they were floated across the Pacific by a strong South Equatorial Current. Four months and thousands of miles at sea for an iguana seems rather implausible, but the ancestors of the current species may have had adaptations, such as different food needs and a long incubation period for eggs.
5. Marine iguanas (Umbrerinh)
- 1 view
- Dimensions: 119cm (3.9ft)
Marine iguanas are the only lizards known to spend significant time in the ocean. They are expert swimmers and are capable of diving up to 65 feet. Iguanas swim to satisfy a highly specialized diet of seaweed that grows underwater and along rocky shores. Although they feed in the water, marine iguanas spend most of their time on land and can often be seen while they are sunbathing. Marine iguanas are also known for their salt glands, which they use to remove salt from large amounts of food they consume underwater.
Marine iguanas are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, and although there are several subspecies identified, marine iguanas are the only official species of this genus. Umbrerinh… They have a stocky body with short, powerful limbs and a flat tail that helps them swim. Marine iguanas often appear black and gray, allowing their body to absorb heat quickly after swimming in cold water. Despite the conservation and local abundance, marine iguanas are highly dependent on algae growth, which changes from year to year. They are considered vulnerable by the IUCN.
4. Spiked Iguana (Ctenosaura)
- 15 types
- Largest: Mexican spiny tail.
- Dimensions: 139.7 cm (4’7“).
Right in the middle of our list, thorn and tailed iguanas include at least 15 recognized species. They are a large group that lives in Mexico and Central America, and they have enlarged spiny scales on their tail. Unlike some of the iguanas listed above, the thorny group is omnivorous, feeding on small fruits, flowers, and small animals. Thorny iguanas live in dry forests below 1200 m above sea level.
The Mexican spiny tails, capable of growing to over four and a half feet in length, are the largest species in the group. Another member of the genus, the Costa Rican Spiny Tail, previously held the Guinness World Record for the fastest lizard (21.5 mph). It has since been surpassed by the green iguana (22 mph) and the perenti, which is a species of monitor lizard that can reach speeds of up to 25 mph.
3. Galapagos iguanas (Konolof)
- 3 types
- Largest: Galapagos iguanas.
- Measures: 152.4 cm.
The Galapagos iguana ranks third with a maximum length of nearly five feet. Like marine iguanas, all three species of this genus are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, and their conservation status ranges from vulnerable (Galapagos land iguanas and Santa Fe land iguanas) to endangered (pink iguanas in the Galapagos Islands). The Galapagos pink iguana is especially interesting for its unusual pink color and limited habitat (found only on the slopes of one volcano on one island); according to scientists, only 200 individuals remain in the wild.
There is little controversy around the Galapagos land iguana and the Santa Fe land iguana, with doubt as to whether they are two different species. They are very similar, but Santa Fe is more pale yellow in color, has a long, pointed muzzle and more prominent dorsal spines. One of the most interesting features of land iguanas is their symbiotic relationship with island finches. Finches remove parasites and ticks from the iguana, providing relief and light food for the birds.
2. Rock iguanas (Cyclura)
- 10 types
- Biggest: Cuban rock iguana.
- Dimensions: (5’2 ”) ~ 157 cm.
Found on islands in the West Indies, rock iguanas include a large group of species and subspecies known for their longevity. One blue iguana was believed to be 69 years old at the time of death, making it the longest-living lizard in the world (at least 54 of those years were spent in captivity). The current record for the longest rock iguana born in captivity is 41 years old and is held by a rhinoceros iguana named Reno who lives at the Australian Zoo.
Rock iguanas prefer dry, forested areas with eroded limestone and sparse vegetation, feeding mainly on herbivorous treats such as leaves, flowers, and berries. Size varies by species, but the largest rock iguana was 5.2 feet long. Of the ten recognized species, two are vulnerable, four are endangered and four are endangered.
1. Green iguanas (Iguana iguana)
- 2 types
- Largest: Green Iguana
- Measures: (6.6 feet)
The green iguana is the largest iguana species on Earth! It is also the only species that has been listed as Least of Concern by the IUCN due to its conservation status. These guys are everywhere, from Brazil to Mexico to Florida. The green iguana, known in Puerto Rico as the “hen of the trees,” is most likely a pet. The genus includes two species: the lesser Antillean iguana and the large green iguana. The average size of a green iguana is nearly five feet, although some have grown to six and a half feet in length!
Like many on this list, green iguanas are primarily herbivores. They are also agile tree climbing and expert groves. In some areas of their mass range, they are eaten, and they may be more endangered than others, but in general the species is stable. They are considered invasive in several places, most notably in Hawaii and Florida, where they are responsible for significant environmental damage. One of the bizarre green iguana events happened in Florida in 2008, 2010, 2018 and 2020, when strong cold fronts brought local temperatures down dramatically. Iguanas fell into a daze (for example, hibernation) and lost control of their grip on branches, falling from the trees as if it were raining iguanas. When the temperature dropped, most iguanas were able to pull themselves together and continue their existence.
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