They have excellent vision, enabling them to detect shapes and motions at long distances. Green iguanas have very sharp teeth that are capable of shredding leaves and even human skin. They tend to breed in the dry season, ensuring that young hatch in the wet season when food is more readily available. During the mating season the male becomes more aggressive and conflicts between males are not uncommon. Courtship behaviour of males includes head bobbing, extending and retraction of the dewlap (the flap of skin under the chin), and nuzzling or biting a female’s neck.
Females lay their eggs around 65 days after mating and over the course of three days they can lay over 60 eggs. The eggs are deposited into shallow nests and incubation lasts up to 120 days. Once they have hatched the young iguanas are independent and disperse rapidly in order to survive from being eaten by predators.
Green Iguanas are primarily herbivorous, eating green leafy plants or ripe fruits, but they will occasionally eat small amounts of insects and spiders. This is particularly important for juveniles who require higher amounts of protein in their first two to three years to ensure fast growth.