The Huge Black Ctenosaur
The Black Ctenosaur, in Spanish known as the Iguana Negra or Gallina de Palo is a huge lizard that inhabits the Pacific slopes in Costa Rica. This amazing lizard is usually found along the Pacific lowlands. Costa Rica car rental
This lizard has a yellowish gray or tan color with vaguely outlined dark bands on the back end of its body. The young ones are usually bright green and this color darkens later over the years. The colors in the adults may vary and could be almost black. The color can also change during the day due to their activity or the temperatures of their bodies. Car rental Costa Rica
An interesting fact is that they have a long heavy tail which is covered in whorls of threatening spines. Furthermore its feet have menacing sharp claws. The male’s head is wider than the female’s head and their jaws are more muscular. This animal needs sunning areas with perches, such as boulders, fallen trees, fence posts, rocks, and so on. As long as they have this, the ctenosaurs can live in dry deciduous forests or in moist forests, pastures or in beachside scrub.
In Costa Rica they can be found in Corcovado National Park, Santa Rosa National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Carara National Park, Palo Verde National Park, Guanacaste National Park, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Caño Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Ballena National Park, Barra Honda National Park.
The behavior of the ctenosaur can be both conspicuous and concealed. These lizards have to look for shade and sunshine because they need to keep their bodies temperature at a healthy level. Consequently they are commonly seen warming themselves on walls, fences or branches. During the day they are active, they spend a great part of the day thermo regulating. The ctenosaurs do this by moving to the sun or shade according to their temperature needs.
They are very good at climbing and sometimes they are found high up in the trees. They regularly find shelter in the burrows and tunnels that they dig using their clawed feet. If the ctenosaur abandons its burrow, other animal species will use it. When the temperatures are low you will see the ctenosaurs lying on rocks or on the ground trying to absorb as much sun as possible.
An interesting fact about them is that they are highly territorial and both females and males will guard their shelter, burrow, perch and their area. Males are usually more combative and will defend not only their home range but also the burrows of some females.
These lizards do not get involved in fights often. However, when they are upset they have a warning sign which is a display of head bobbing with the mouth open and gular pouch full or air. If a male ctenosaur trespasses another male’s territory and he doesn’t understand the signals there could be a fight. However, females will take this display in a different way because males do this in order to attract them.
An adult male can have a total length of 1.3 m and weigh as much as 2 kg. The total length of a female is about 90 cm. and its weight is closer to 1 kg.
Visit the national parks in Costa Rica and admire these unique lizards!