Rhinoceros Iguana is a Unique Animal in the World

Rhinoceros Iguana - Iguanas are a type of reptile with hard scaly bodies and have many species spread over several continents. One of the rarest and hardest species of iguanas to find in the wild is the rhinoceros iguana which only inhabits certain islands.

Rhinoceros iguana, Reptile Species with Solitary Characteristics!

The rhinoceros iguanas are very popular because of their enormous size and the presence of horns or horns on the heads of these similar animals to those of the rhino. It has a polygamous marriage system and is known for its violent attacks.

Here are five interesting facts about the rhinoceros iguana :

1. The original habitat of the iguana rhino

The rhinoceros iguana is an endemic animal native to the island of hispanola, whose territory consists of two countries, namely Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Reporting from the Animalia.bio page, these animals inhabit various areas including shrubs, humid forests and dry forests. However, they are also frequently seen in lowlands like beaches and small islands.

They include omnivorous animals that eat various types of plants and small animals including lizards, snakes, insects, fruits, leaves and many more.

2. Habits of living in the wild

In their natural habitat, the rhino iguana lives alone or better known as a solitary animal. They actively hunt for food during the day and warm themselves in the sun while disguising their surroundings.

Meanwhile, at night, these animals will return to their nests usually found in caves or hollow trunks to rest and sleep.

Although they prefer to run away when encountering humans, under pressure iguanas will attack aggressively by biting and wagging their tails.

3. Physical characteristics

In terms of appearance, the rhino iguana has a texture with rough scales and grayish skin.

Reporting from the Animaldiversity page, in its natural habitat this iguana species is very easy to recognize because it has a large body size and horned head which makes it an iguana rhino.

However, the horns on the heads of these animals are the scales of their enlarged and hardened skin. To differentiate between sexes, male iguana rhinos have a larger body size than females.

4. The reproductive system

The iguana rhino is a polygamous animal that can reproduce with multiple partners. When the mating season arrives, the male will usually make certain body movements to attract the female’s attention.

After 40 days of mating, the female will lay 5 to 20 eggs. Then, the eggs are placed in a 1.5 meter deep hole. The reason is, these eggs need warm temperatures of up to 30 degrees Celsius to be incubated until they hatch.

5. Declining population

The iguana rhino population in its natural habitat is currently very threatened. It is estimated that there are only 10,000 – 17,000 rhino iguanas left in the wild. they are the largest reptile species found in the Hispaniola region.

Additionally, rhino iguanas can live long enough to reach 20 years of age. One of the causes of the decline in the population of these animals in the wild is deforestation which results in the loss of their habitat.

Those are some interesting facts about the iguana rhino, which is an endemic animal native to the Hispaniola region. Being one of the rare reptile species makes this animal must be protected by its existence.

How about Zooloverz friends, are you interested in this rare and unique reptile?

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