Green Iguana Ethogram

Animal Behavior Lab An Ethogram on the Green Iguana Lecturer Dr. P. Deluca due(p) Date 2. 10. 12 Classification Kingdom Animlia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Reptilia Order 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, a good deal 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 pr otect them from predators (Meshaka et al. 2007). Their whip- handle 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 last regene identify a new one (Meshaka et al. , 2007). In addition, iguanas raze well developed dewlaps which help tell 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 93F to 95F. Methods The jet iguanas were studied using Focal sampling.With this method, the green iguana was situated and its bearing was observed for a standard time. During this focal study, the following data was recorded as they lapse * the context (date, time, location, weather, habitat, social context) * the sequence of doingss * the succession of behaviors (using a stopwatch) Name of behavior Head-Bobbing During this observation, th e green iguana (Iguana iguana) began this behavior by raising its body up and moving its head up and down. The time or duration of this behavior was between 1218 pm- 139 pm.There were different modes of this behavior that was interpreted and could have been an indication of threat, a harmless greeting or protection of territory. The bobbing of the green iguana may besides probably be done in a variety of situations and signaling of different things. The most notability description of this bobbing is the usual straight up and down with a minor side-to-side movement, which is vibrated speedily in the up-down-sideways mode. When bobbing is completed, the head is kept raised upwards after the last movement. This is held for a moment or two, followed by an up-and-down bob again.This process occurs when the iguana sees another one of its kind (neighbor), other lizards such as the brownish anole and curly tail lizard and people visiting the zoo. When an individual would stay more than 10- 15 minutes the green iguana body will settle down into a relaxed, laying down position rather than the raised and laterally compressed body position that typically accompanies the aggressive bobs. This behavior occurred in three different sessions and they lasted on an average of thirteen (13) minutes and giving a gist of thirty nine (39) minutes.The first observation of the green iguana was one of the loosen upest movements of its head when approached by a nearby lizard of a different species such as the brown anole that was spillage by within the territory of the green iguana. This slow head bobbing appeared to be in a pass water of a greeting to the brown anole. At first however, the green anole was lying flat on its stomach not doing much and when the brown anole came pass, the green iguana changed its body posture by raising the body and flaring its dewlap (small pulsation of dewlap).However, the slight bobbing became more of an advertisement that the iguana was concern ed virtually its territorial rights. During the second observation, another green iguana that was sharing the same territory with the previous green iguana being studied appeared in the nearby area. When this happened, the green iguana (studied individual) bobbing changes its frequency or rate and became more rapid. This was probably an attempt to indicate that it was becoming more annoyed and offended by the go against of the other green iguana.It also had appeared to be warning the other iguana away from its basking area. During this behavior, the head is vibrated quickly in the up-down-sideways mode, and its head was kept raised upwards after the last movement. This was held momentarily followed by an up-and-down bob, as stated previously. However during the final bobbing observation, the green iguana head was moving in a slow jerking motion that was accompanied with little sneezing. This occurred approximately 122pm. During this observation, there were no visible stressors in its environment.It was also moving along a piece of log and extending its dewlap. The dewlap is the fan like structure that hangs below the chin of the green iguana. The extension of the dewlap only lasted momentarily and it began to fold and tuck up under its chin, as if it was a sign of submission. This behavior lasted for approximately 8 minutes. Reference Meshaka, E. W. , Smith, T. H. , Golden, E. , et al. (2007). Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) The Unintended Consequence of croak Wildlife Management Practices. Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 2(2)149-156.