Hobbies And Interests
Iguanas
Iguanas are medium-sized lizards found in the rainforests of Central and South America. Green iguanas, also known as common iguanas, have a long tail and four short, powerful legs that they use to climb trees and swim. They can weigh between 10 and 40 pounds (5 to 18kgs), and grow up to 7 feet (2.1m) in length. Green iguanas tend to live near river banks where the female is able to bury her eggs in the moist soil.
Gecko
Geckos are the only lizards with a voice. The squeaking noise they make sounds like "gecko," which is where their name comes from. Geckos are identifiable by their large eyes, small size and nocturnal activity. This takes place on virtually every plane of surface thanks to their sticky toe pads. The native habitat of the tokay gecko is the dense rainforests of tropical Asia. At between 5 and 10 inches (13 and 25cm) in length, the tokay gecko is the largest of the gecko species. The crested gecko lives in the rainforests of Indonesia and derives its name from the prominent crest that beginning over each eye.
Monitor
Monitors, also known as goannas, are large carnivorous lizards. The black tree monitor lives in the dense tropical rainforests of Aru Island in Indonesia. This black lizard feeds on small insects and can grow to between 18 and 26 inches (46 to 66cm) length. The green tree monitor is also found in Indonesia and measures between 18 and 22 inches (46 to 56cm) in length. Its bright emerald skin is highly valued, leading to an inevitable decline in numbers.
Chameleons
Chameleons have long tongues, parrot-like feet, independently moving eyes and, most memorably, the ability to change color. This ability is made possible through special pigment cells beneath the lizard's skin that respond to mood or information about the lizard's surroundings. There are 11 species found in the rainforests of Madagascar. These include the short-horned chameleon with its large elephant-like ears, and the tiny plated leaf chameleon.