Reptiles

Reptiles are air-breathing, cold-blooded animals that have skin covered in scales instead of hair or feathers. Austin Zoo has lots of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and giant tortoises.

Iguana

Diet: Herbivore

Lifespan: Up to 20 years
Weight: Up to 10 lbs
Size: Up to 5 1/2 feet long

Status: Least Concern

Habitat: Found in Central and South America from Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as the Caribbean Islands to Florida.

Did you know?

• Green Iguanas are bred and raised on farms in Central and South America to be eaten by people.
• Iguanas have evolved a white photosensory organ on the top of their heads called the parietal eye, which are also called third eye. This “eye” doesn’t work the same way as a normal eye does. It has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images. It is however sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement. This helps the iguana when being stalked by predators from above.