#reptilelizard

[coffeenuts]

Golden Iguana sunning on coral rock wall by jungle mama https://flic.kr/p/2dvfy3h

[nunoxaviermoreira]

Golden Iguana sunning on coral rock wall by jungle mama Important to know: Iguanas are capable of severely injuring people, other animals and themselves when their body language messages are not recognized. Most iguanas clearly sign that trouble is ahead. They nod their head and wave their dewlap side to side. The dewlap is a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of an animal, like a cow. Iguanas use their dewlap to communicate. First, an extended dewlap can simply be a greeting. An extended dewlap is often used to say hello to another creature during mating and most generally as a territorial sign. Second, it can be a form of protection. A threatened iguana may extend its dewlap to intimidate a predator into thinking it is much larger than it is. Third, an extended dewlap may be a sign that the iguana is trying to adjust its temperature. An extended dewlap on an iguana basking in the sun is quite normal. It may be catching sun to warm up or catching a breeze to cool off. So it's important to consider "the big picture" when reading an Iguana's body language. Parts of an iguana... www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=Up3IVbC... Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL www.susanfordcollins.com https://flic.kr/p/2dvfy3h