One of the first questions asked by those who are curious about iguanas is: how big do iguanas get?
This article will attempt to answer that question.
The first thing we need to acknowledge is that there are two types of the green iguana.
One would be the Lesser Antillean Iguana and the other would be the Greater Antillean Iguana.
How Big Iguanas Can Get
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The Lesser Antillean green iguana can reach a length of 1.2 meters, but typically only reaches about half that size.
The coloration is not unlike other green iguanas, that is, they are mostly green with some brown spots.
The Greater Antillean iguana is the largest species of iguana.
The males can reach 2 meters in length and weigh up to 9kg!
They tend to be dark green or black with splotches of bright colors on their backs or tails.
Difference Between Male & Female Iguanas
Females are significantly smaller, however, they can still reach a length of 1 meter.
Iguana iguanas grow relatively quickly for their first year or two, but after that growth slows down quite a bit to about 0.3 meters per year on average, reaching sexual maturity when they are about 3 years old.
After that point, iguanas can live 20-30 years, reaching an overall length of about 1.5 meters for males and just under a meter for females.
The female’s tail is shorter than the male’s, sometimes significantly so, while the male’s dewlap (the flap of skin on his throat) is larger and more colorful.
On average, iguanas get about 1 meter long and weigh around 10 kilograms, but this can vary depending on what type of iguana it is.
The Lesser Antillean green iguana averages about half that size, while the Greater Antillean green iguana can get to nearly two meters in length and weigh up to nine kilograms.
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