Night of the Iguana
If you go to Costa Rica, most likely you’ll encounter an Iguana in the wild. There are two species of Iguanas in Costa Rica - the green iguana and it’s cousin, the ctenosaur(or black iguana). Both species can be found in lowlands and along both coasts, although the green iguana is now considered an endangered species. One distinguishing mark of the green iguana is a large circular scale (larger than the eye) at the junction of the jaw. Green iguanas are also found at slightly higher elevations than the ctenosaur who are darker in color and not quite as large. Both species spend a good part of their lives in the trees and as adults are mostly vegetarians. In Manuel Antonio, a popular beach resort along the Pacific Coast, you’ll find a lot of ctenosaurs scurrying about on the ground near the roadside and the beach. They are somewhat slow moving so it will be not that difficult to take a picture of them. Green Iguanas are more often found in the forest and in the hills. Green Iguanas in particular are considered a delicacy to eat in Costa Rica. Concerned environmentalists have set up a number of natural refuges for green iguanas in Costa Rica where these lizards can increase their population numbers in a protected environment. A certain percentage of the iguanas are released into the wild every year. In addition, some are training farmers to harvest iguanas for food.
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