North GroundHuntNorth Ground Hunt — return to North Ground
Species authority page

Green iguana

Iguana iguana · Lizards · Reptiles

Green iguana (Iguana iguana): Typically green, but can be brown or nearly black; some adults turn orange or pink seasonally. Row of spikes down the centre of neck, back and upper tail; dark black rings on the tail. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the green iguana map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Orange-coloured green iguana basking on a rock
Photo by Richard Stovall on Unsplash
Scientific name
Iguana iguana
Family
Iguanidae
In North America
Introduced
Range
Native from Central America through tropical South America and some Caribbean islands. Introduced in southern Florida (mostly the southern half of the peninsula, commonest near the coast), Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Not native to Canada.
Biology

How to identify it

Typically green, but can be brown or nearly black; some adults turn orange or pink seasonally. [1][2][3]

Row of spikes down the centre of neck, back and upper tail; dark black rings on the tail. [1][2][3]

Mature males have heavy jowls and a much larger dewlap (throat fan) than females. [1][2][3]

Males reach over 5 ft and 17 lb; females usually stay under 7 lb. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Trees, shrubs and ground in forest, urban, suburban and agricultural settings; lives in burrows and culverts in cleared areas of Florida. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Mostly arboreal; excellent swimmer that can submerge up to four hours [1][2][3]

Mainly herbivorous: leaves, flowers and fruit; adults also take bird eggs and carrion [1][2][3]

Males signal with head-bobbing and dewlap extension [1][2][3]

Not cold-hardy, which limits establishment northward [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for removal or nuisance take

These authorities list this species as nuisance, invasive or unprotected wildlife that may be taken. This is not a game season.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native from Central America through tropical South America and some Caribbean islands. Introduced in southern Florida (mostly the southern half of the peninsula, commonest near the coast), Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Not native to Canada.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. BIOLOGICALGreen Iguana

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

  2. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  3. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    University of Michigan Museum of Zoology