(image Creative Commons via Photopin)

I is for Iguana.

Okay, I don’t know why I’m partial to iguanas–other than the obvious–they are adorable!

This is another Blogging from A to Z post related to writing and research.

I wrote a story called “Flight of the Iguana” featuring an iguana and a rattlesnake with, yes, a small nod to Tennessee Williams. I also included an iguana named Alwyn in Moonlight Dancer.

That means I had to do some research to discover traits and characteristics to make the portrayals of the iguana as real as possible. If you like this reptile, too, or plan to use one in your writing, you may find some of these facts interesting.

1. The iguana is a vegetarian.

2. The iguana needs a warm environment to survive, which usually means a heat lamp and regulated temperature. However, many iguanas have the run of the owned one’s house and yard.

3. The iguana is the only reptile that protects its family members from danger.

4. The male expands his dewlap (the skin beneath his jaw) to court the young lady of his dreams. If she says no, that means no. Plus, her girlfriends have her back.

5. You can tell the male from the female as the male has a blocky head and longer spikes down its spine.

6. Iguanas bob their heads to communicate. Check out this post from Melissa Kaplan on the various meanings of head bobbing.

7. Iguana tastes like chicken. Oh, that’s just sad.

Have you ever used an iguana in your writing? Do tell!