




































Iguana 10.2


The Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura Wgm.
[translator’s note: “Wgm.” Refers to A.F.A.
Wiegmann, a German zoologist who described
many saurian genera in Herpetologia Mexicana,
which was published in 1834]) are restricted to
Middle America. They can be distinguished from
Cyclura by the short rows of femoral pores. They
are imposing animals that are primarily terrestrial
or, at the most, seek shelter in the hollow trunks
of trees. They have laterally compressed bodies, a
relatively low middorsal crest, and tails equipped
with whorls of spiny scales. The best known
species is the Mexican Black Iguana, Ctenosaura

acanthura Shaw [an English naturalist who
applied proper Latin names to many “amphib-
ians,” which, around the turn of the 19th century,
included reptiles]. This proud creature can reach a
total length of over 1.20 m and is either uniformly
graphite-black in color or bears black crossbands

H I S T O R I C A L  P E R S P E C T I V E S
56 IGUANA Volume 10, Number 2

Black Iguana, Ctenosaura acanthura Shaw 1/6 natural size.

The Black Iguana*
Franz Werner

* excerpted and translated from Franz Werner (1913. Die
Lurche und Kriechtiere von Alfred Brehm. Zweiter Band:
Kriechtiere (Schuppenkriechtiere). In: O. z. Strassen (ed.),
Brehms Tierleben. Allgemeine Kunde des Tierreichs.
4th ed. Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig and Wien).
Translated by R. Powell.



on its rump and decorative black rings around its
tail, both over a light ground color (light olive-
brown, yellow-gray, or green). In captivity, these
lizards readily consume both plant and animal
matter. According to Sumichrast [François
Sumichrast, a 19th century Swiss naturalist], sev-
eral female Spiny-tailed Iguanas, like Common
Iguanas, lay their eggs in a communal chamber;
however, females do not appear as a rule to gather
in large numbers during the nesting season, as one
rarely finds more than 6–7 dozen eggs in a single
nest. Ruthven [Alexander G. Ruthven, a famous
American herpetologist] observed the subspecies
completa Boc. [completa is now considered to be a
synonym of Ctenosaura similis; “Boc.” refers to
M.-F. Bocourt, a French naturalist, who collected
extensively in Middle America during the second
half of the 19th century] primarily in the savannas
of Mexico where trees form isolated clusters. In
fact, each individual is true to the tree which it has
staked out as its own, so that Ruthven almost
always saw these animals on the trunks of their
trees as he approached a given clump, often
remaining in one place for hours at a time. Their
diet consists largely of leaves.

The Black Iguana is considered especially tasty
and, as a consequence, according to Sumichrast, is
commonly hunted, particularly prior to festivals.
Hunters seek these animals in burrows or split tree
trunks, particularly those that are in the vicinity of
temporary pools that hold water only during the
rainy season. Should a lizard be caught, it is
secured in the typical fashion. Even more favored
than the meat, which is considered a delicacy, are
the eggs. Quatrefages [an unknown source] tells a
relevant tale of the traveler Sallé. As the latter
entered a humble hut one evening in Middle
America, he found only soup to quench his con-

siderable appetite. To his surprise, however, his
host, who had already apologized for the sparse
meal, knew just how to spice it up in a most pecu-
liar fashion. At the host’s command, several small
boys ran off to the woods and returned shortly
thereafter with a large lizard that seemed destined
for the traveler’s plate. Instead of killing and broil-
ing the animal, the host merely made a small inci-
sion in its side, reached in with his fingers, and
carefully pulled out two strings of eggs.
Subsequently, the host cleanly stitched the cut,
rubbed a few hot ashes on the edges of the
wound, and released the lizard. The eggs were
placed in front of Sallé, who queried his host and
was told that it was common practice to treat these
animals in such a fashion, since one could there-
fore count on harvesting another batch of eggs in
the following year. 

H I S T O R I C A L  P E R S P E C T I V E S
57IGUANAJune 2003

Black Iguana, Ctenosaura acanthura Shaw. 1/9 natural size. Photograph by W.S. Berridge, F.Z.S. – London.

Distribution of the genus Ctenosaura. The question mark
indicates uncertainty regarding the presence of iguanas in
southern Baja California and the arrow denotes the
introduction of Spiny-tailed Iguanas into southern Florida.
Modified from Gunther Köhler (2002. Schwarzleguane.
Herpeton Verlag Elke Köhler, Offenbach, Germany).


