Great Green Iguana!

The Great Green Iguana is known as the largest lizard of the Amazon. But still it is unbelievable to know that the little fellow on the left will grow into the Great Green Iguana, pictured right.

During the dry season the female Great Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) is laying a couple of eggs in a well-formed nest, buried in loose soil. The sun will make sure that the eggs will hatch in time before the rainy period will start. If an egg successfully hatches a small bright green iguana will crawl out of its dark hole and will immediately seek protection in the nearest dense vegetation. During its first survival weeks it will hunt for insects or leaf eaters. 

During the past years I managed to photograph the Great Green Iguana in different stages: from juvenile into an adult.

Let's start from the smallest one. We spotted this one hidden well between all the leaves and vines. It sat very still, practically frozen as it tried not be too visible. It almost worked.

This one was spotted on a Monkey brush vine, it almost fooled me. A bit bigger but still great in pretending to be one with the surrounding. Notice the first stage of a crest behind its head.

This one starts to look like a young adult with a small noticeable crest. It was spotted on a branch hanging above the Kabalebo river.

Judging by the loose skin it was slowly but surely growing out of its old skin.

And here is the end result: a fully grown up Great Green Iguana. How time flies.
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