An iguana is a large lizard with scaly skin, a long tail, and a row of spines running down its back. Most iguanas live in warm places like Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, where they spend their days basking in the sun on tree branches or rocks near water.

The green iguana is the kind most people picture: it can grow over five feet long (though most of that length is tail), and despite the name, its color ranges from bright green to brownish-gray. Iguanas are herbivores, meaning they eat plants, leaves, flowers, and fruit rather than insects or meat. They're excellent swimmers and climbers, using their sharp claws to grip tree bark and their powerful tails to propel themselves through water.

Some people keep iguanas as pets, though they require special care, warm temperatures, and lots of space as they grow. In the wild, iguanas can live 15 to 20 years, and they're surprisingly fast runners when threatened. If you visit a tropical place like Costa Rica or the Galápagos Islands, you might spot iguanas sunning themselves on walls, docks, or low-hanging branches, looking like small, spiky dinosaurs enjoying their day.