Green Iguana Ethogram
Animal Behavior Lab
An Ethogram on the Green Iguana
Lecturer: Dr. P. Deluca
Due Date: 2.10.12
Classification Kingdom | Animlia | Phylum | Chordata | Subphylum | Vertebrata | Class | Reptilia | Order | Squamata | Suborder | Sauria | Family | Iguanidae | Subfamily | Iguania | Genus | Iguana | Species | iguana |
Introduction:
The Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) was studied at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo in Nassau, Bahamas for approximately two hours on September 25th 2012. The Green Iguana is a large, arboreal herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean (Meshaka et al., 2007). They are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below (Meshaka et al., 2007).
Furthermore, they possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators (Meshaka et al., 2007). Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one (Meshaka et al., 2007). In addition, iguanas have well developed dewlaps which help regulate their body temperature. This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays (Meshaka et al., 2007). The habitat of these iguanas was tropical warm and wet. The weather on that day ranged from 93°F to 95°F.
Methods:
The green iguanas were studied using Focal sampling. With this method, the green iguana was located and its behavior was observed for a standard time. During this focal study, the following data was recorded as they occur: * the context (date, time, location, weather, habitat, social context) * the sequence of behaviors * the duration of behaviors (using a
An Ethogram on the Green Iguana
Lecturer: Dr. P. Deluca
Due Date: 2.10.12
Classification Kingdom | Animlia | Phylum | Chordata | Subphylum | Vertebrata | Class | Reptilia | Order | Squamata | Suborder | Sauria | Family | Iguanidae | Subfamily | Iguania | Genus | Iguana | Species | iguana |
Introduction:
The Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) was studied at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo in Nassau, Bahamas for approximately two hours on September 25th 2012. The Green Iguana is a large, arboreal herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana native to Central, South America, and the Caribbean (Meshaka et al., 2007). They are active during the day, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruit. They generally live near water and are excellent swimmers. If threatened, they will leap from a branch, often from great heights, and escape with a splash to the water below (Meshaka et al., 2007).
Furthermore, they possess a row of spines along their backs and along their tails which helps to protect them from predators (Meshaka et al., 2007). Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one (Meshaka et al., 2007). In addition, iguanas have well developed dewlaps which help regulate their body temperature. This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays (Meshaka et al., 2007). The habitat of these iguanas was tropical warm and wet. The weather on that day ranged from 93°F to 95°F.
Methods:
The green iguanas were studied using Focal sampling. With this method, the green iguana was located and its behavior was observed for a standard time. During this focal study, the following data was recorded as they occur: * the context (date, time, location, weather, habitat, social context) * the sequence of behaviors * the duration of behaviors (using a