Reptile · GBIF taxon 5224624
Fijian Crested Iguana
Brachylophus vitiensisAlso known as Fiji Crested Iguana
Fijian crested iguanas are masterful canopy dwellers celebrated for their rapid color-changing abilities, shifting from brilliant emerald green to almost black when territorial or alarmed. Dominant males defend high perches with head-bobbing displays and expansive throat fans, guarding leafy feeding territories against rivals. Females lay small clutches of eggs in forest floor burrows, which endure an exceptionally long nine-month incubation period before the hatchlings emerge to climb into the trees.
ReptileArboreal
Licensed reference(c) Matthias Liffers, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beach hibiscus leaves
- Vavalo tree shoots
- Wild fig fruit
Predators
- Feral cat
- Black rat
- Fiji goshawk
ThreatsInvasive predators like feral cats and rats, habitat destruction by goats, and severe cyclones
HabitatsTropical dry forests and littoral coastal scrub
Life span15–25 years
Classification
- FamilyIguanidae
- GenusBrachylophus
- SpeciesBrachylophus vitiensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Look for a bright emerald body with prominent white bars, pale nostrils, and a crest of spines.
- Support conservation
- Strictly refrain from touching or chasing individuals, and access sanctuary islands only with authorized guides.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Scan sunlit branches in the mid-canopy during warm morning hours when iguanas bask.
- Biosecurity: Inspect all footwear and gear for hitchhiking seeds or pests before entering island sanctuaries.
- Distance: Remain several meters away to prevent iguanas from dropping to the ground in panic.
Predator Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Fiji Banded Iguana lizard reptile" by watts_photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative TomCatX / CC0 · cc0
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