Smooth helmeted iguana facts for kids
The smooth helmeted iguana (Corytophanes cristatus), also known as the helmeted iguana or helmeted basilisk, is a fascinating lizard. It belongs to a group of lizards called Corytophanidae. You can find this unique reptile living in the warm, wet forests of southern Mexico, Central America, and the northwestern parts of South America.
Quick facts for kids Smooth helmeted iguana |
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Conservation status | |
Scientific classification | |
Genus: |
Corytophanes
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Species: |
cristatus
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Synonyms | |
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Contents
About Its Name
This lizard gets its name from the special crest on its head and neck. This crest looks a lot like a helmet!
Where It Lives
The smooth helmeted iguana lives in a wide area, from Chiapas in southern Mexico all the way to northwestern Colombia. It mostly lives in rainforests, both old and new. These lizards spend most of their time in trees. However, they also hunt on the forest floor, using fallen leaves for cover.
What It Looks Like
The smooth helmeted iguana is a medium-sized lizard. It has long, thin legs and very long toes. Its skin can be grey, olive, brown, black, or even reddish-brown. It often has irregular blotches on its body.
Just like chameleons, this lizard can change its skin color. This helps it blend in with its surroundings, which is called camouflage. The most noticeable feature is the crest on its head. This crest turns into a saw-tooth ridge down its back. Both male and female lizards have this crest, but it's bigger on the males.
Adult smooth helmeted iguanas are about 9–12 cm (4–5 in) long from their snout to the base of their tail. They don't warm up by basking in the sun. Instead, they keep their body temperature around 26 °C (79 °F), which is similar to the forest floor where they live. These lizards are very careful about predators. If danger comes near, they can freeze in place from up to 15 m (49 ft) away!
Behavior and Life Cycle
Reproduction
Female smooth helmeted iguanas lay about five to six eggs. They dig a small dip on the forest floor for their nest. Scientists think the crest on their head might help them dig these nests.
Diet
The smooth helmeted iguana eats insects, spiders, worms, and even other small lizards. It's mostly a "sit and wait" hunter. This means it stays very still and waits for its prey to come close. It doesn't hunt often, but when it does, it's very good at catching its meal. Sometimes, if waiting doesn't work, it will actively search for slow, easy-to-catch prey.
Unique Interactions
These iguanas can stay motionless for a long time. Because of this, a type of fungus called Physarum pusillum has been seen growing on their skin! Also, this lizard is the only known animal to have a plant growing on it.
Conservation Status
The smooth helmeted iguana is common and found across its natural home. There are no major worries about this species right now. However, cutting down forests can be a local threat to these lizards.