Tropical Thornytail Iguana
Tropical Thornytail IguanaTropical Thornytail IguanaTropical Thornytail IguanaTropical Thornytail Iguana

Tropical Thornytail Iguana

Uracentron flaviceps

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Yasuní National Park
25 Verified records at Yasuní National Park
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

Uracentron flaviceps, the tropical thornytail iguana or Amazon thornytail iguana is an elusive species of medium-sized arboreal lizard found in the tropical lowlands of the Amazon rainforest. The species was described by French zoologist Alphonse Guichenot in 1855. They are considered to be ant specialists and exhibit communal nesting and a harem-style breeding system in which one male mates with and attends to multiple females. Study of this species has been impeded by difficulties collecting and observing them. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Thornytail Iguana sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Yasuní National Park

Tree Runner
LC

Tree Runner

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Plica plica

20–30% · Possible
Blue-lipped Tree Lizard
LC

Blue-lipped Tree Lizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Plica umbra

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
<5
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
30–40
Sep
10–20
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
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 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
2 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
10–20%
3 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
4 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Yasuní National Park?

About 18% of wildlife watchers report a Tropical Thornytail Iguana sighting in Yasuní National Park, based on 25 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Yasuní National Park?

September has the highest sighting rate for Tropical Thornytail Iguana in Yasuní National Park in our monthly data.

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