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Rhinoceros Iguana
Cyclura cornuta
An imposing, prehistoric-looking reptile native to the island of Hispaniola. Highly intelligent and territorial, it requires massive enclosures and a strictly herbivorous diet.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Iguanidae
Genus:Cyclura
Species:Cyclura cornuta
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 70 %
Day temperature
30 - 38 °C
Night temperature
24 - 26 °C
Adult size
64 cm
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It inhabits dry forests, coastal scrublands, and rocky arid habitats, sheltering in natural caves.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Iguanidae and the genus Cyclura. A heavily protected species listed on CITES Appendix I, representing a genetically distinct island lineage vulnerable to habitat destruction.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal, terrestrial, and highly territorial. They are remarkably intelligent lizards, capable of recognizing individual keepers. Communication involves rapid head-bobbing and dewlap displays.
Morphology: An imposing, heavy-bodied lizard reaching lengths of 1.2-1.4 meters and weights up to 10 kg. Characterized by three horn-like scales on the snout and a uniform dark greyish-brown color. Males possess larger jowls and dorsal crests.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a massive enclosure. Adults need a dedicated room, greenhouse, or secure outdoor enclosure of at least 3x2x2 meters. Furnish with thick climbing logs, large basking rocks, and a deep soil-sand substrate.
Lighting and Heating: Requires high heat and intense UV. Basking spot must reach 43-46°C (109-115°F), with ambient temperatures of 28-32°C (82-90°F) and a night drop to 22-24°C (72-75°F). Intense 12-14% UVB or metal halide lighting is mandatory.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain moderate humidity (50-60%). Provide a large, shallow water tub for drinking and soaking. Occasional misting helps facilitate shedding.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly herbivorous. Diet must consist of leafy greens (collard greens, dandelion, mustard greens), flowers (hibiscus), and squash, with minimal fruit. Supplement with calcium twice a week and multivitamins weekly.
Compatibility: Solitary and highly territorial. Never house multiple males together, as they will fight viciously. Keep individually except during supervised breeding introductions in expansive enclosures.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly susceptible to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) if UVB or calcium is deficient. Feeding animal proteins is toxic, leading to gout and kidney failure. Obesity can occur without regular exercise.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic). It inhabits dry forests, coastal scrublands, and rocky arid habitats, sheltering in natural caves.
Origin
Central America and CaribbeanNorth America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 64 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 64 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 64 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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