Land Iguana

Land Iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus)
Less exotic (but also endemic) orangish-green land Iguanas can grow up to 1m in length. Keep an eye out for the prickly pear Iguanas on Santa Fe and South Plazas, the rare hybrid Iguana on South Plazas, and the crested canolophus pallidus land iguana species, found only on Santa Fe. Land iguanas reach maturity between 8 and 15 years of age. Males are territorial and will aggressively defend specific areas that typically include more than one female. Following the mating period, the female iguanas migrate to suitable areas to nest, and will lay between 2 and 25 eggs in a burrow dug in the sandy soil. The female defends the burrow for a short time, to prevent other females from nesting in the same place. The young iguanas hatch 3-4 months later, and take about a week to dig their way out of the nest. If they survive the first difficult years of life, when food is often scarce and predators are a danger, land iguanas can live for more than 50 years.