Green Iguanaグリーンイグアナ

Iguana iguanaLC— Least Concern

The green iguana is a large, primarily herbivorous lizard native to Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Juveniles are bright green, while adults often shift to grayish or reddish-brown tones, and the species is an agile climber and swimmer capable of surviving falls of up to 15 meters. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, though pet-trade escapees have established invasive populations in Florida, Taiwan, and other regions, including Japan.

Green Iguana (reference photo)
Photo: Rjcastillo / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Squamata / Iguanidae Source
Size
Total length about 1.2–1.7 m; large males can exceed 2 m
Weight
Males average about 4 kg, females 1.2–3 kg; large individuals can reach 8 kg
Diet
Herbivore Herbivorous, eating young leaves, flowers, fruit, and shoots
Distribution
Native from southern Mexico through Central America to Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia; introduced populations from the pet trade are established in Florida, Hawaii, Taiwan, and elsewhere. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • It has a light-sensitive "third eye" called a parietal eye on top of its head. Source
  • An agile climber and swimmer, it can reportedly fall up to 15 meters and land unhurt. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 6

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

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Kyoto City ZooKyotoOpened in 1903

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Kiryuugaoka DoubutsuenGunmaIf driving, set your car navigation to "Kiryugaoka Amusement Park" (Kiryugaoka Yuenchi) rather than "Kiryugaoka Zoo" to reach the parking lot (searching by the zoo name may give an incorrect route).

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Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

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Ueno ZooTokyoOpened in 1882

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TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

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Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

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Closed: 2025-09-30 Official Site

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Least Concern (LC)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org

Support Conservation

A visit is a small, positive way to support the daily lives of the animals you care about.

Visit
A visit itself helps support the facility.
Animal Supporter Programs & Giving
Find ways to support the facility through its official website.
Furusato Nozei
Municipally run facilities may share official guidance for this Japanese hometown-tax program.

FAQ

What do green iguanas eat?
They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, fruit, and new plant shoots. Source
What is the 'third eye' on a green iguana's head?
It is a light-sensitive organ called a parietal eye, located on top of the head, that helps detect changes in light and shadow. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 6 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org