Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana

Ctenosaura similis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
8 Verified records at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
April Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Ctenosaura similis, commonly known as the black iguana or black spiny-tailed iguana, is an iguanid lizard native to Mexico and Central America. It has been reported in some Colombian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, and has been introduced to the United States in the state of Florida. The largest species in the genus Ctenosaura, it is commonly found in areas such as grasslands and forests. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
5–10
Feb
5–10
Mar
10–20
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
90–100%
2 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
90–100%
3 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
4 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
5 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
6 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
7 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
8 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
80–90%
9 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
80–90%
10 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
60–70%
11 Coiba National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
60–70%
12 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
50–60%
13 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
50–60%
14 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
40–50%
15 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
40–50%
16 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
40–50%
17 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
30–40%
18 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
30–40%
19 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
20 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
21 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
22 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
10–20%
23 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
24 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
26 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
27 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
28 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
29 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
30 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
31 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
Insufficient data
32 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
33 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
34 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
35 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
36 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
37 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
38 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
39 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
40 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
41 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Spiny-tailed Iguana sighting in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, based on 8 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve?

April has the highest sighting rate for Black Spiny-tailed Iguana in Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in our monthly data.

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