Here are some fun and fascinating facts about iguanas, ranging from their superhero-like senses to their quirky survival habits.
They Have a “Third Eye”
One of the weirdest facts about iguanas is that they have a parietal eye on top of their heads. It doesn’t look like a normal eye (it resembles a pale scale), and it can’t see shapes or colors. Instead, it acts like a complex light sensor that detects changes in sunlight and shadows, helping them spot predatory birds flying overhead and regulate their sleep cycles.
They Are Built-in Scuba Divers
Iguanas are surprisingly excellent swimmers.
- Breath-holding: They can hold their breath underwater for up to 15 minutes.
They “Sneeze” Salt
Because marine iguanas have a lot of salt in their diet, they filter out the excess salt at thier nose. They expel this salt by “sneezing” it out.
They Can Detach Their Tails
If a predator grabs an iguana by the tail, the iguana can detach it and run away. Eventually, a new (though usually slightly different looking) tail will grow back.
It Rains Iguanas in Florida
Iguanas are cold-blooded, meaning they rely on outside heat to move. When temperatures in places like Florida drop below 40°F, iguanas become sluggish or completely immobile. They lose their grip on tree branches and fall to the ground, leading to “falling iguana” weather warnings. They aren’t dead—just “frozen”—and will wake up once they warm up.