Jamaican iguana in exhibit

Jamaican Iguana

Scientific Name
Cyclura collei
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Range
Hellshire Hills of southern Jamaica
Habitat
Forests
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Meller's chameleon in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Critically Endangered Endangered Status Graph - Critically Endangered

More Information

Jamaican iguanas are large, grayish lizards with a green or blue tint, olive-green colorations around their shoulders, and dark triangle-shaped blotches down their dorsal crest. Males can grow up to 17 inches long, while females reach only 15 inches. They are mildly dimorphic: males possess large femoral pores beneath their thighs that release pheromones, while females have smaller pores and lower dorsal crests. These iguanas nest in underground burrows filled with loose soil and lay up to 20 eggs in early summer.

Did You Know?

Once common throughout Jamaica, their population dropped dramatically after the Indian mongoose was brought to the island as a form of rat and snake control. The iguanas were considered extinct for four decades until a small population was discovered in 1990.

Some zoo-born iguanas are released into the wild once they’re large enough to fend off the invasive mongooses.

Females guard their nests alone, using aggressive displays, biting, and chasing to fend off enemies.

Species Survival Plan logo

Species Survival Plan®

We cooperate with other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to manage the zoo population of this species through a Species Survival Plan®.

Learn More

Animal Care staff working with seal

Commitment to Care

Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.

Learn More

Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

Animals Depend On People Too

When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.

Adopt an Animal

Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

Wish List

The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

Take Action With Us

Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.

Take Action

00:00
00:00
Empty Playlist