Iguanas - Classification And Characteristics

The 30 species of iguanas belong to the subfamily Iguaninae, of the family Iguanidae. Iguanas are assigned to seven genera, their common names being banded iguanas (Brachylophus), land iguanas (Conolophus), spiny-tailed iguanas (Conolophus), ground iguanas (Cyclura), desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus), green iguanas (Iguana), marine iguanas (Amblyncus), and chuckwallas (Sauromalus).

Size, weight, and longevity vary between species. Large land iguanas of the Galápagos Islands range in weight from a hefty 26.5 lb (12 kg) to less than 11 lb (5 kg), while the tiny ground iguana of the Bahamas and West Indies weighs scarcely 2 lb (1 kg).