The black Mexican spiny tailed iguana.

Natives of Western Mexico, these large lizards are pervasive in the Mayan ruins of Tulum. I have only seen them once; the occasion was an excursion to the ancient city from a cruise during the spring of 2001. They were everywhere. There apparently was no fear of humans as the creatures enjoyed obtaining delectable bits from tourists and guides alike (see image below). Juveniles are mostly carnivorous while adults (1 year +) eat about 75% vegetation and 25% invertebrates with the occasional rodent consumed for good measure. The males can reach lengths of five feet, the females are a bit smaller. It turns out that adults can be aggressive when harassed and are capable of inflicting a significant bite. The general philosophy seems to be to leave them alone.

The lizards are a favourite of the pet trade and, it turns out, as a food source for a wide variety of animals, including man. They do not seem to be at risk for extinction, especially considering the fact they have been introduced in many places and show invasive behaviours. The peculiar thing about them is that a single female can produce offspring. This is not parthenogenesis but rather is due to the fact that a mated female can retain the male's sperm for years. She can lay over 100 eggs in a single clutch; southern Florida now is home to tens of thousands of them.

Although they can make interesting pets (life in captivity up to 22 years), their large size and risk of aggression make them less than ideal. Furthermore, once people grow tired or unable to care for their pet a common theme is to let them go into the wild. They would not survive here in Canada but would and do flourish in southern latitudes. As with all pets, the best way to free yourself from their care is to turn them in to a place that can properly care for them. At the risk of sounding harsh, I have to say it is better for the authorities to destroy such an animal than to release it into the environment and end up with yet another invasive species on the loose. Considering the consequences of lionfish in the Caribbean or starlings throughout North America, the death of a few unwelcome species is far better than the deaths of thousands of local inhabitants.

The best plan then is not to get something you can't care for over its entire life span. If you do, seriously consider all available options before shedding yourself of the responsibility of looking after it. A pet, any pet, should only be acquired if you can properly care for it for the duration of its life. Be aware of what you are getting. Do the research and carefully consider your choices. Maybe a cat is the way to go instead.

Thanks for reading.     Ericspix     Eric Svendsen