Good afternoon,
I am joining you today to give you some insight into our most recent addition to the reptile team. His name is George and he's a helmeted iguana, otherwise known as the forest chameleon. This little guy hails from southern Mexico. Generally, these iguanas can be found on the lower branches of trees or in bushes.
Although still a baby, George will grow to a slender 14 inches in length and will have long limbs. He has a crest that results in his helmet, which you can see on the nape of his neck. His scales are granular and rough. It appears as though our friend will be a rich brown color, although the helmeted iguana can also be olive or gray, with light or dark markings.
George's weaknesses involve spiders, earthworms and small lizards, coupled with a vitamin and calcium supplement regime.
George is our first helmeted iguana. There may, however, be more in the future. Breeding occurs throughout the year. Six to 11 eggs are laid at a time, preferably in moist earth, and these eggs produce three- to four-inch hatchlings.
Last, but certainly not least, is the question of how will we care for George. He has been moved into a spacious enclosure, surrounded by plenty of strong plants and branches for him to play on. Because he comes from the tropics, we maintain a temperature between 80 and 90 F.
To him, I'm sure it feels just like home. And this is what we strive towards -- the comfort and care of our animal friends. It is our job, and we love it.
Thank you for taking time today to learn about the helmeted iguana, and please feel free to drop by George's neighborhood any time for a visit.