Sergio
Desert Spiny Tailed Iguana Ambassador
Male
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About Sergio
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Description
Black spiny-tailed iguanas are large lizards native to Mexico and Central America. They have distinctively black, keeled scales on their long tails, which gives them their common name. They have a crest of long spines that extends down the center of the back. Although coloration varies among individuals of the same population, adults usually have a whitish-gray or tan ground color with dark dorsal bands.
Habitat
They are active during the day. Although mainly terrestrial, these iguanas are excellent climbers, and prefer rocky areas with plenty of crevices to hide in, rocks to bask on, and nearby trees to climb.
Range
Black spiny-tailed iguanas range from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico) to northeastern Nicaragua and western Panama on the respective Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They are commonly found throughout Costa Rica, Honduras and have been reported in Colombia. These iguanas live in dry and moist forests and also occur in open terrains such as savanna, grassland, and shrubland. They can also be found on sandy beaches, in coastal lagoons, marshes, and near urban areas.
Life Span
Average lifespan of 4-5 years.
Prey / Food
Black spiny-tailed iguanas are primarily herbivorous. They eat flowers, leaves, stems, and fruit, but will also sometimes prey on smaller animals, eggs, and arthropods. Juveniles tend to be insectivores and become more herbivorous as they get older.
Babies / Nests
Generally breed in spring. Within 8 to 10 weeks, the female will dig a nest and lay a clutch of up to 30 eggs. The eggs hatch 90 days later and the hatchlings dig their way out of the sand.
Native American Folklore
Lizard has remarkable healing abilities. He can lose his tail and regrow it and he can shed his skin and replace it regularly. For this reason, Native people associate Lizard with healing and renewal. The Navajo call Horned Lizard Grandpa (Cheii) and revere him for his sacred healing and protection powers.
One Navajo story tells of Lightning challenging Cheii, boasting that he could kill him in four strikes, Cheii dodged the attacks each time by using songs and defeated Lightning with his spikes. Thus, his songs are used for protection.
Because of its array of spikes, the Cheii is a symbol of protection to Navajo. If Cheii allows you to pick him up, and you rub him on your chest, Cheii will give you protection. Not only protection of your physical body, but also your mind, spirit, and emotions.
In one Navajo story, Coyote tries to play a game with a group of lizards that are sliding downhill on flat rocks. They warn Coyote that this game is for lizards, ignoring their warnings Coyote slides on a large rock that flips and lands on him. As an act of kindness, the lizards circled around him and used their healing powers to bring him back to life.
In Plains Indian tribes, Lizard is associated with healing and survival, and masculinity. In some Plains tribes, a newborn boy's umbilical cord is sewn into an amulet in the shape of a lizard to ensure his health and strength.
In a Pomo creation story, Lizard and Coyote wrestle to decide how human beings should appear. Because Lizard wins human beings are given hands with fingers rather than paws.
The Hopi have Monongya Kachina, a lizard spirit that acts as a link between the spiritual and human world. In ceremonial dances, he arrives wearing a mask with the turquoise color of the collared lizard. Monongya is a warrior who encourages the people to act like true Hopi. In many ceremonies, it is his job to chastise those who act foolishly. He is also known for his matchmaking skills. This lizard warrior and his smaller relatives in the desert remind Hopi people that they are part of a sacred landscape.
In this story, the Cahuilla Tribe prayed to the Great Spirit for healing for their children. The Great Spirit ripped a strip of blue sky from the heavens and rolled it into a Blue Lizard, giving the Lizard healing magic to take to the Cahuilla. The Blue Lizard traveled on a sunbeam to the Earth, shared his magic, and the children of the Tribe were healed. To live safely on earth, Blue Lizard climbed high to the top of San Jacinto Mountain, where he remains to this day. The Cahuilla considered the upper portion of the mountain to be the sacred abode of spirits.
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