Chilean tree iguana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilean tree iguana |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Liolaemus
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| Species: |
chiliensis
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The Liolaemus chiliensis is also known as the Chilean tree iguana. People sometimes call it the weeping or crying lizard. Other names for this lizard include Liodeira chilensis and Calotes chiliensis. It is also sometimes called the Talcahuano Smooth-throated Lizard.
This lizard is famous for making distress calls. But these sounds don't actually sound like crying or weeping.
The name chiliensis comes from Chile, where the lizard lives. It is found only in central Chile and a small part of southwestern Neuquen Province, Argentina. This type of iguana lives in bushes and on branches. You can find it in open forests and areas where forests meet scrublands. This is mainly in the Chilean Matorral ecoregion.
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What is the Chilean Tree Iguana?
The Chilean tree iguana is a type of lizard from the family Liolaemidae. It is a medium-sized lizard. It can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 9.8 inches) long. It weighs around 24 grams. Lizards found further south tend to be smaller. This might be because of the colder weather there.
These lizards are usually dull green and gray. This helps them blend in with rocks and plants. Females have a longer distance between their armpit and groin than males.
How does the Chilean Tree Iguana hear?
Like most reptiles, this lizard has an eardrum. Inside their ears, they have tiny bones called otoliths. These bones help them sense movement and sound. They can hear sounds from 500 Hz to 2000 Hz. This means they can hear many sounds, including the distress calls of other lizards.
Where does the Chilean Tree Iguana live?
This species is native to South America. You can find it in the Chilean Matorral, Patagonian Steppe, and Valdivian Temperate Forests. This area covers parts of Chile and Argentina. You can see a map of where it lives and many photos on iNaturalist.
These lizards live between 30 and 40 degrees south latitude. They can be found from sea level up to 2100 meters high.
What is the Chilean Tree Iguana's habitat like?
The Chilean tree iguana lives in bushes and on branches. They often bask in sunny spots within bushes. This helps them hide from predators. They are very good at running and climbing. You might find them on branches higher than you expect. But they usually stay close to the ground, hidden in thick shrubs.
They are active during the day. You might see them more often from September to February. This could be because it's their mating season, the weather is warmer, or more people are outside spotting them.
What does the Chilean Tree Iguana eat?
The Chilean tree iguana is a carnivore. This means it eats meat. Its diet mainly includes insects and other small invertebrates. Young lizards hunt and eat the same things as adults.
Studies show that these lizards mostly eat:
- Beetles (Coleoptera)
- True bugs (Hemiptera)
- Ants, bees, and wasps (Hymenoptera)
They also eat parts of grasshoppers, scorpions, and sometimes even plants. They might also eat moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) and flies (Diptera).
How does the Chilean Tree Iguana behave?
Why does the Chilean Tree Iguana bulge its eyes?
Sometimes, these lizards have been seen bulging their eyes. This behavior is rare and only happens when they are in captivity. Scientists think it might help them control their body temperature or even clean their eyes.
How does the Chilean Tree Iguana reproduce?
The Chilean tree iguana is an oviparous species. This means the female lizard lays eggs. The eggs hatch outside her body after a period of incubation. The female does not stay with the eggs.
Females like to lay their eggs under rocks. This protects the eggs from predators. They can lay eggs as early as October. But usually, females are ready to lay eggs in October and lay them in November. This is when the warmer season begins in the Southern Hemisphere.
A group of eggs, called a clutch, usually has between 7 and 11 eggs. The largest clutch ever recorded had 18 eggs! Bigger females tend to lay more eggs than smaller females.
Why does the Chilean Tree Iguana make distress calls?
Most lizards don't make sounds, except for geckos. But the Chilean tree iguana is special! It's the only species in its group that can make sounds.
These lizards make "distress calls" when they are stressed, trapped, or feel threatened. This includes when humans pick them up. Both male and female lizards make these calls. They sound more like squeaks than hisses or crying. These sounds can be heard several meters away.
When other lizards hear these calls, it makes them scared. They might freeze and delay trying to escape. If there's a constant risk of predators, these lizards become less active over time.
Distress calls can vary. Males tend to make louder and simpler calls than females. These calls are thought to have two main purposes:
- They warn other lizards nearby about predators.
- They might scare away predators.
More complex calls (which sound more erratic) make other lizards more scared. This might happen when the threat is more serious. Lizards also seem more distressed by calls when they are in a familiar place. They might feel safer there, so a sudden distress call is more alarming.
These calls can even help reduce snake attacks. The snakes might explore less for a while. However, there's a small risk that the call helps a predator find the lizard. But overall, distress calls have helped these lizards survive. They increase the chances of survival whether other lizards are around or not.
Lizards from different regions can even tell calls apart. Northern lizards usually only react to calls from other northern lizards. But southern lizards respond to calls from both northern and southern lizards. Southern lizards are smaller, so they might feel more at risk. This could make them more sensitive to any distress call.
Other species, like the Liolaemus lemniscatus lizard, can "eavesdrop" on these distress calls. This helps them escape from the Chilean tree iguana, which sometimes preys on them. So, these calls might make it harder for the Chilean tree iguana to catch its prey.
How do Chilean Tree Iguanas interact with each other?
Studies suggest that these lizards can detect other members of their species. They do this by sensing special fats (lipids) in fresh droppings. But they don't seem to recognize specific individuals, just that another lizard of their kind is nearby.
Both male and female lizards can detect special scents from female lizards. When they smell these scents, both sexes become more active and explore. Males show more interest if they are looking for a mate. Females might release these scents to attract potential mates.
How do Chilean Tree Iguanas interact with other animals?
The Chilean Green Racer (Philodryas chamissonis) snake sometimes preys on the Chilean tree iguana. These lizards can also get parasites called Spauligodon nematodes.
Chilean tree iguanas are one of the most common lizards preyed upon in their native habitat. This is because there are many of them, and they fit into the local food web. They can also detect predatory snakes by scent. When they smell a snake, they become less active to avoid being noticed.
Is the Chilean Tree Iguana endangered?
People sometimes keep L. chiliensis as pets. However, this is not good for conservation. The lizard only lives in a limited area. This makes it vulnerable to habitat destruction and a drop in its population.
But don't worry! This species has never been close to extinction. Today, it is listed as a species of "least concern." This means it's not currently endangered. It's popular as a pet because it's common in its home range and makes those interesting distress calls. People have even photographed them being held in human hands in their natural habitat. This suggests they can be curious or calm enough to let someone hold them.
