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What eats the green iguana?

Updated: 10/8/2023
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9y ago

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There are many different species of iguanas. But, let us assume you are asking about the best known. and often sold as a pet, green iguana (Iguana iguana), and about their "natural" predators (rather than humans, house cats, dogs, and Old World rats). One big hint is that green iguanas are very prolific. Species that are relatively prolific tend to be "on the menu" for lots of other species.

In their natural habitat (mostly in or near trees) throughout tropical parts of Mexico, Central and South America, and southern islands of the Caribbean, iguanas have more predators that you can count. Birds such as hawks, owls, herons, egrets and even kingfishers all take small iguanas. Larger raptors, including harpy eagles, can take even the largest iguanas, as can larger snakes, especially boa constrictors. Snakes of all sizes are probably among the more important predators of iguanas.

There also mammalian predators, such as coatimundi, raccoon, and peccary, which all eagerly take small iguanas but really specialize in digging up and wiping out eggs still incubating where ever the female iguana buried and abandoned the nest. Rats, especially exotic species first introduced by explorers from Europe, are also major nest predators. And, once a nest is disturbed and a few eggs broken to create an attractive scent, ants and other insects may finish it off.

Mexico, and Central and South America have several native cats that share range and habitat with green iguanas: especially the jaguar, ocelot, margay, and jaguarundi, and probably pumas as well. These cats are all opportunistic predators well-equipped to deal with iguanas, especially if they spot one on the ground.

Iguanas spend most of their time in trees, and they prefer to rest in branches over water so they can drop from trees into water or, if surprised while on the ground, run to water to escape predators. This can backfire, iguanas forced to dash into water may encounter a caiman, crocodile, anaconda or any of a host of other aquatic snakes, and even a predatory fish. Remember, iguanas start out weighing about an ounce, so even a good-sized bass would be pretty pleased to encounter a young iguana as it swims away from some other predator.

Iguanas defend themselves from all this predation in several ways. First and most importantly, as mentioned in opening paragraph, they make lots of replacements. All iguanas, especially small iguanas, are very cryptic and good at hiding in plain sight. All they need is something green to blend in with... seldom hard to find in the jungle. Their main defense it to stick to cover (plants are both their main source of camouflage and all they really eat) and remain still, hoping you don't see them.

Big iguanas can be a bit less cautious, but they are also tough customers, with armor-like skin, a strong bite and sharp teeth (for slicing through the tough leaves they eat), very sharp claws (picking up an iguana who is not pleased is even harder than taking an unwilling cat to the vet), and they will lash at a potential attacker with their long, hard tail. This smarts, but is more startling than dangerous.

Still, as we still see leaves on the trees, we must assume most iguanas do get eaten by something. Now that escaped and released pet green iguanas are well established in South Florida, they are also having to deal with our resident native predators (alligators, raccoons, bobcats, great white herons and American egrets, red-shouldered hawks, bass and gar). Many of our native snakes get big enough to take small iguanas.

Also, iguanas in South Florida are surely on the menu for some of our other new immigrants (boa constrictors, Burmese pythons, Nile monitors, tegus, feral cats and feral hogs). Not to mention people (there is even an iguana recipe book), and our pet cats and dogs. My own Labrador has caught at least two already, and might have eaten them if I had not confiscated them. But, for the most part, predators are in short supply in urban areas so, neighborhoods - especially with canals or waterfront (lake, ocean, or bay) are perfect iguana sanctuaries.

What eats iguanas? Nearly every other animal.

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10y ago
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9y ago

Some large Birds of Prey, foxes, rats, weasels, some snakes and humans.

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9y ago

Animals that eat iguanas include alligators, hawks, herons, eagles and hawks. Other animals include rats, sharks, snakes, raccoons, and foxes.

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15y ago

complete wiredo's

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11y ago

foxes, rats, weasels, birds of prey

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13y ago

a cayote

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