Black Spiny-tailed Iguana
Ctenosaura similis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyIguanidae (Iguanas and Chuckwallas)
- GenusCtenosaura (Spiny-tailed Iguanas)
- SpeciesCtenosaura similis (Black Spiny-tailed Iguana)
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
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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
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.