Description:
Scientific name: Cyclura cornuta
Life span: around 16 or 17 years
An endangered species of iguana is the rhinoceros iguana. These iguanas are the biggest in their genus and range in length and skin tone from steely gray to dark green and even brown. Their name comes from the bony-plated pseudo-horn or protrusion on the iguana’s snout that mimics the horn of a rhinoceros.
Native Region/Habitat
The island of Hispaniola is home to rhinoceros iguanas (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). They tend to reside in damp forests, shrubland, and scrubby woodlands. On coastal terraces, lowlands of the peninsula, and some offshore islands and small cays, they also live in dry woods that are characterized by xeric, rocky ecosystems of eroded limestone.
Behavior:
Animals known as rhinoceros iguanas live alone and are active during the day. They spend their days warming up in the sun on rocky outcroppings where there is little flora to provide cover, where they blend in perfectly with their surroundings. They seek refuge in caverns or hollow tree trunks at night so they may sleep. Rhinoceros iguanas often attack fiercely; if caught, they will bite and hit repeatedly with their strong tail, despite being fast to flee when attacked or threatened.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
- The necessity for a large space is the main factor discouraging people from raising iguanas. Mature rhino iguanas need a space that is at least 8 feet long and 5 feet tall, with plenty of area for movement. You will very certainly need to construct your own enclosure or buy one from a business that makes custom-built enclosures due to the quantity of space required.
- A substrate that is great at retaining humidity is required for rhino iguanas. 60% to 70% humidity is necessary for rhino iguanas.
- The best materials for obtaining these levels are coconut fiber or eco earth, which may also be used to grow some veggies or leafy greens in the cage for your iguana to eat whenever it feels puckish.
- An indoor enclosure must maintain a basking or hot spot temperature of 90–95 degrees with an ambient temperature of roughly 80 degrees. To ensure that your temperatures are accurate, you must set thermometers in the enclosure’s center and the basking area.
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