THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

210 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Gars and snapping turtles would be an
alligator menu item in the wild. Fortunately,
Claude is satifsfied with “gator chow.” large
pellets comprised of “meat,” fish meal and
vitamins.
Alligators remain on average about 10–15
minutes underwater before going to the
surface for air. Dives may occasionally last
longer, but alligators have also been known to
drown within 20–30 minutes if held struggling
underwater.
ORDER SQUAMATA
(LIZARDS AND SNAKES)
Saharan Spiny-tailed Lizard
Uromastyx geyri (Agamidae)
Distribution: North Africa, including parts of
Algeria, Mali, and Niger.
Habitat: Rocky, semi-arid areas.
Appearance: Beige or orange with lighter
spots. A red phase is bright red to a near-neon
orange. Females paler with less vivid patterns.
Length: c. 35 cm.
Diet: Primarily herbivorous. Acquire most of
their water from vegetation. Have powerful
jaws capable of eating cacti, especially if they
need water.
Reproduction and Development: Eggs
incubated 70–80 days before hatching.
Conservations Status: An uncommon
species, but total numbers seem to be holding
steady in spite of increased import for the
pet trade.
Remarks: Hide in underground chambers
during the heat of the day or to escape
predators. In the wild, Uromastyx burrows may
be as deep as 3 m.
The thick spiked tail is characteristic of all
Uromastyx species, thus the common name.
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana (Iguanidae)
Distribution: Widely distributed from Mexico
to southern Brazil and Paraguay, as well as on
Caribbean Islands.
Habitat: Tropical rainforests at low altitudes.
Is arboreal and spends most ofi its time in the
canopy, 12–15 m above ground, coming down
only to mate, lay eggs, and change trees.
Appearance: Green iguanas are among the
largest lizards in the Americas: 2 m in length, 5
kg weight. They can be various shades of green,
ranging from bright green to a dull gray-green.
The skin is rough with a set of pointy scales
along the back. They have long fingers and
claws to help them climb and grasp branches.
Males have a flap of skin, called a dewlap, on
the ventral side of the neck. It can be inflated to
make them seem larger, to attract females, and to
adjust their body temperature. The tail is almost
half their length, and can be used as a whip to
drive off predators. They can detach their tail if
caught, and it will grow back.
Diet: Primarily herbivores, eating plants,
especially leaves and fruit.
Reproduction and Development: Iguanas
reach sexual maturity in 2–3 years. Green
iguanas breed at the onset of the dry season. A
month or two later, the females lay a clutch of
14–76 eggs in burrows excavated in communal
nesting sites. At the end of a three-month
incubation period, the newly hatched iguanas
emerge. Because hatching takes place during
the rainy season, food is plentiful.
Mortality/Longevity: Reptiles, birds and
mammals prey upon the hatchlings. Less than
3% live to adulthood. Adults are highly prized
for their meat, and are hunted by humans. They
are also captured for the pet trade.
Conservation Status: The green iguana has
become extinct in some countries and is
endangered in others because of excessive
hunting and habitat loss. In Costa Rica a
program is being developed to breed and
raise green iguanas in semi-captivity. After
successful breeding, the hatchlings are
maintained for 6–10 months, then released into
the surrounding area with supplemental food
and protection. When they are adults, some
are harvested for food and to generate income
by supplying leather for handicrafts. Such
programs have decreased forest destruction
and helped to protected wild iguanas.
Remarks: In parts of Central America where
iguanas are eaten for food, they are called
“bamboo chickens” or “chicken of the trees.”
Green Basilisk Lizard
Basiliscus plumifrons (Corytophanidae)
Helmeted Lizards
Distribution: Central and South America.