Green Iguana

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Possible. About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 10 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

December. In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and September, the lowest months. That is one of Cañón del Sumidero National Park's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 260 mm in June.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Green Iguana?

Between 11 am and 2 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Green Iguana sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Cañón del Sumidero National Park the best place to see a Green Iguana?

37th of 44. Of the 44 parks where we can rate Green Iguana sightings, Cañón del Sumidero National Park ranks 37th at about 20%. The best odds are in Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica, about 80%), Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas (Brazil, about 70%) and Tayrona National Natural Park (Colombia, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Q: Where does the Green Iguana sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Green Iguana is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Cañón del Sumidero National Park (23 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Iguana iguana

Silhouette: Jack Mayer Wood · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyIguanidae (Iguanas and Chuckwallas)
GenusIguana (Typical Iguanas)
SpeciesIguana iguana (Green Iguana)

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

at Cañón del Sumidero National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

23 Verified sightings at Cañón del Sumidero National Park From 2019 to 2026

4,264 In all 44 parks

December Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Rainforest Starter Central AmericaEasy

About the Green Iguana

The green iguana (Iguana iguana), also known as the American iguana or the common green iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico. It is highly invasive in many subtropical and tropical environments throughout the world.

A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 m (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 9 kg (20 lb).

Although this species is commonly kept as a pet because of its disposition and coloration, it can be challenging to care for properly. Its requirements for adequate space, lighting, and heat can be difficult for hobbyists to meet.

The species was first officially described by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Since then, numerous subspecies have been identified, but later classified as merely regional variants of the same species. Using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:22

Costa Rica · 2025

Recording0:17

Venezuela · 2026

Recording0:10

Taiwan · 2024

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 354 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~80%
2	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	~70%
3	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~70%
4	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~70%
5	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
6	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~60%
7	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~60%
8	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~50%
9	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~50%
10	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
11	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
12	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~50%
13	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
14	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
15	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
16	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
17	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
18	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
19	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	~40%
20	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
21	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~40%
22	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
23	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
24	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	~40%
25	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~40%
26	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~40%
27	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
28	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~40%
29	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~40%
30	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
31	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
32	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~30%
33	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
34	Pico Bonito National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~30%
35	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~30%
36	Amacayacu National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
37	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
38	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
39	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
40	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
41	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
42	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
43	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
44	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Guayaquil	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~80%
2	Cali	🇨🇴 Colombia	~70%
3	Barranquilla	🇨🇴 Colombia	~70%
4	Manaus	🇧🇷 Brazil	~70%
5	São Luís	🇧🇷 Brazil	~70%
6	Valencia	🇻🇪 Venezuela	~70%
7	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
8	Natal	🇧🇷 Brazil	~60%
9	Belém	🇧🇷 Brazil	~60%
10	João Pessoa	🇧🇷 Brazil	~50%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Everland	🇰🇷 South Korea	In captivity
3	Busch Gardens Tampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Moscow Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
5	Pairi Daiza	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
6	National Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	ZooParc de Beauval	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
8	Copenhagen Zoo	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
9	Dublin Zoo	🇮🇪 Ireland	In captivity
10	Aquarium of Genoa	🇮🇹 Italy	In captivity
11	Toba Aquarium	🇯🇵 Japan	In captivity
12	Parque das Aves	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
13	Barcelona Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
14	Cabarceno Natural Park	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
15	Kolmården Wildlife Park	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
16	Nausicaà Centre National de la Mer	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
17	Oceanarium in Saint Petersburg	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
18	Paris Zoological Park	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
19	Melaka Zoo and Bird Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	In captivity
20	Fota Wildlife Park	🇮🇪 Ireland	In captivity
21	Réserve africaine de Sigean	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
22	Zoologic park de Lille	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
23	Rostov Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
24	Karagandy Zoo	🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	In captivity
25	Zoobotanic Park of Brusque	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
26	Parque Temático Hacienda Nápoles	🇨🇴 Colombia	In captivity
27	Vinpearl Safari	🇻🇳 Vietnam	In captivity
28	Nandankanan Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
29	Arignar Anna Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
30	Beijing Wildlife Park	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
31	Al Ain Zoo	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	In captivity
32	Taipei Zoo	🇹🇼 Taiwan	In captivity
33	Parque Zoológico	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
34	Nehru Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
35	Khao Kheow Open Zoo	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
36	Yumka'	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
37	Zoológico de Brasília	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
38	Badoca Safari Park	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
39	Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
40	Chiang Mai Night Safari	🇹🇭 Thailand	In captivity
41	Planète Sauvage	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
42	Ecological Center of Sonora	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
43	Virginia Safari Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
44	Parc zoologique de Montpellier	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
45	Beijing Zoo	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
46	Safari Madrid	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
47	Indira Gandhi Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
48	Sedgwick County Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
49	Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
50	Parc zoologique de Lisieux	🇫🇷 France	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Cañón del Sumidero National Park

LC Endemic

Ctenosaura pectinata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Sceloporus variabilis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Coniophanes piceivittis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Basiliscus vittatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Anolis sagrei

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Hemidactylus frenatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Anolis unilobatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Micrurus browni

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Crocodylus acutus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 9 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 10 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

December

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and September, the lowest months. That is one of Cañón del Sumidero National Park's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 260 mm in June.

What time of day is best to see a Green Iguana?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Green Iguana sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Cañón del Sumidero National Park the best place to see a Green Iguana?

37th of 44

Of the 44 parks where we can rate Green Iguana sightings, Cañón del Sumidero National Park ranks 37th at about 20%. The best odds are in Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica, about 80%), Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas (Brazil, about 70%) and Tayrona National Natural Park (Colombia, about 70%). All parks ranked.

Where does the Green Iguana sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Green Iguana is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Cañón del Sumidero National Park (23 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Cañón del Sumidero National Park

Green Iguana

About the Green Iguana

Sounds

Recent sightings of Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Cañón del Sumidero National Park

Guerreran Spiny-tailed Iguana

Rose-bellied Lizard

Cope's Black-striped Snake

Brown Basilisk

Brown Anole

Common House Gecko

Moist Forest Anole

Brown's Coralsnake

American Crocodile

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

When is the best time to see a Green Iguana in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?

What time of day is best to see a Green Iguana?

Is Cañón del Sumidero National Park the best place to see a Green Iguana?

Where does the Green Iguana sighting chance come from?