Many of us have heard about news reports of iguanas falling from trees like acorns or coconuts. Last week, weather forecasters warned Floridians to watch out for falling iguanas. During cold snaps (50 degrees or below), these tree-dwelling reptiles become almost rigid, like plastic, and fall out of trees. The temperature drop stiffens their muscles, their grip loosens, and then falls.
Beware, they aren’t dead! Although they appear to be lifeless, lying on the ground, they are alive!
As the temperature rises, their muscles relax and they become active.
Marine iguanas can pause their heartbeats for up to 45 minutes during cold snaps, thereby using They can stop breathing for almost 30 minutes while eating algae and other underwater vegetation. Slowing their heartbeat makes them able to hold their breath and forage underwater.
The word iguana derives from the term “iwana,” which means a type of large lizard. Some people have iguanas as pets, but I don’t ‘wanna’ find one in my trees or beneath them, regardless of the temperature or where I live.
So, what about these crazy falling lizards? Inquiring minds want to know more about these amazing and strange-looking creatures.
Why do iguanas look prehistoric, something that existed before humans or written history?
Even in their native habitats of Central and South America, iguanas look like something from the time of dinosaurs. Their razor claws and teeth, scaly bodies, spiny backs, and long tails have a mysterious prehistoric appearance. These twenty-toed reptiles can run up to 20 miles an hour.
Who knows? These reptiles may be cousins of dinosaurs.
I’ve seen my share of green and brown lizards around the house and on my back porch. It drives me nuts when one gets inside my house.
Red alert, dead or alive, it must go!
One thing is sure: I’ve never seen a good-looking or easy-on-the-eyes iguana at the zoo, on the internet, or in a magazine or book.
Iguanas look like scary, prehistoric monsters, and they have a third eye.
Contrary to the human concept of a third eye or a symbol of higher consciousness or spirituality, iguanas have a physical third eye atop their head. The eye, connected to the brain, detects light changes and serves as a warning mechanism against threats and predators.
Do people eat iguanas?
I’ve never eaten iguana meat, but people from various cultures consider it a delicacy and prepare it in different dishes. There are many species of iguana. Some are more suitable for eating than others.
Go figure, it seems every strange meat, including iguana, tastes like chicken.
Do iguanas sneeze?
Don’t be anywhere around when a marine iguana comes up for air and sneezes. The sneeze doesn’t sound like a big ACHOO! The sneezing lizards expel a spray of salt crystals about their head. Sneezing is the way they release excess salt from their bloodstream.
Iguanas are never toothless.
Dentists would be out of business if humans had teeth like iguanas.
Iguana teeth are connected or fused to their jawbone. A new tooth grows behind any that is worn down from eating plants and other vegetation. The new tooth forces an old, worn tooth out.
Can iguanas detect earthquakes?
Believe it or not, some scientists think iguanas can sense seismic vibrations. There have been observations of iguanas evacuating their burrows and climbing to higher ground days before major earthquakes.
Like humans, iguanas are great head bobbers.
We bob our heads to signal it’s ok to do something or that we agree. Iguanas bob their heads to communicate mating calls, boundaries, warnings, and other things.
Iguanas are the longest-surviving reptiles on Earth because of their slow metabolism and conservation of energy.
Maybe iguanas aren’t crazy after all!
They are amazing animals!
I hope you are happy and well.