Wildlife: A Black Spiny-tailed Iguana is seen in a Pacific Beach of Guatemala cover photo - 163677217

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Photo title: Wildlife: A Black Spiny-tailed Iguana is seen in a Pacific Beach of Guatemala
Author: Cduartefoto

Cover photo description:
Ctenosaura similis, common known as the black spiny-tailed iguana, black iguana, or black ctenosaur, is a lizard native to Mexico and Central America that has been introduced to the United States in the state of Florida. It is the largest species in the genus Ctenosaura and has been recorded as the fastest-running species of lizard. Black spiny-tailed iguana have distinctive black, keeled scales on their long tails, which gives them their common name. They have a crest of long spines which extends down the center of the back. Males also develop an orange color around the head and throat during breeding season with highlights of blue and peach on their jowls. Black spiny-tailed iguanas are excellent climbers, and prefer a rocky habitat with plenty of crevices to hide in, rocks to bask on, and nearby trees to climb. They are diurnal and fast moving, employing their speed to escape predators but will lash with their tails and bite if cornered. The Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the world`s fastest lizard, with a maximal sprint speed of 34.6km/h. They are primari herbivorous, eating flowers, leaves, stems, and fruit, but they will opportunistical eat smaller animals, eggs and arthropods. Juveniles tend to be insectivores, becoming more herbivorous as they get older. They are known to eat the fruit and live in the limbs of the manchineel, a tree high poisonous to most other animals.