Reptiles · Squamata · Iguanidae

Common Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The black spiny-tailed iguana or garrobo is a large spiny-tailed lizard, very common in Central America, with dark bands on a grey background. It is the fastest land lizard in the world: runs of more than thirty-five kilometres an hour have been recorded. It has been introduced to Florida, where it ranks among the most troublesome invasive reptiles.

Weight

1 kg – 2.5 kg

Size

60 cm – 1.3 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestDesertOceanOmnivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Temperate forest Desert Ocean

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Fun facts

récordIt is documented among the fastest lizards in the world over short distances, topping 30 km/h.
It is the fastest land lizard in the world: documented records exceed thirty-five kilometres an hour at a run, a speed no other lizard has matched under controlled conditions.
Its tail is covered in rings of spiny scales that it uses as a defensive whip, and a blow from an adult can break the skin.
It has become established as an invasive species in southern Florida, where it digs burrows that damage levees and foundations and competes with the native wildlife.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Dry forest, thorn scrub, rocky beaches and inhabited areas of Central America
Size at birth: About 6-8 cm of body on hatching
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 90 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 30 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenosaura_similis