Iguana Mating

Iguanas practice internal fertilization method. In this process male reptile places sperm directly into the body of the female iguana. Reproductive tract helps in reproduction of eggs. This organ enables iguana to breed on land in the absence of water.

Iguanas from different locations may have different seasons for mating and breeding. This process is usually triggered by environmental factors, like day length, humidity, and temperature.

Breeding generally happens when the new born have much access to food. Male iguanas get mature or ready for mating when they grow to the length of 6 inches SVL. Female iguanas take bit more time. They get mature and ready for mating when they grow to the length of 10 inches SVL.

Physical characteristics of male iguana when ready for mating:

1. Iguana is ready to breed when the larger jaw muscles of the lower jaw, below the ear, produce swollen looking ‘jowls’.
2. They have a large, blocky head with jowls.
3. They have fatty deposits on the forehead, above the ear and behind the eyes.
4. They also have spikes on back from neck to tail and large pores along the inner thigh. These pores are called as femoral pores.
5. Males are heavier in size. Body of a male has a bulge near the base of the tail which is called as Hemipeness.
6. Males also develop a nice orange color all over the body and black strip over the whole body and tail becomes sharper.
7. While breeding it only thinks of mating. The food intake of iguana drops down at high range.

Physical characteristics of Female iguana when ready for mating:

1. Female head is smaller than the male and lack with a fat deposit behind the eyes and also less jowls.
2. A femoral pore of female is small. They donot produce any waxy protuberances.
3. Female blue iguanas have a longer and slimmer body than male.
4. The hermipenal bulge is absent in female.

Mating Process :

1. Male iguanas have 2 sex organs which are known as hemipenes located on both the sides. These are present out of view inside a base of tail.
2. Before mating, the male iguanas evert one of his hemipenes through the cloaca.
3. During the mating process male holds tightly the back of the female with his jaws.
4. Than male wraps his tail till the time he does not place his hemipenis into the female cloaca.
5. They both together can remain locked in the same position for about 15 minutes.
6. Mating process is very much tempestuous to the female since; male forcibly holds the female at one place till she breed. Some times in this process the female gets injured.
7. Mating takes place only in the breeding season.

Incubation and Hatching Process:

1. After mating female lays about 1 to 24 large eggs in the month of June or July.
2. They dig a burrow from ground which is exposed to sun.
3. Temperature in burrows is maintained around 32-34 degrees C.
4. The mother protects the burrow by putting leaves and debris over it.
5. After incubation hatching of eggs take place. Hatchlings emerge from burrows on the soil one by one and get scattered in near by vegetation.
6. These hatchlings are often prayed by snakes, rats or other predators.