Rock iguanas love to sunbathe on limestone rocks and warm sandy ground in the morning sun. Like all reptiles, they are cold-blooded, which means they cannot generate their own body heat and rely on the sun to warm them up before they can move quickly. On a sunny morning you might spot several iguanas stretched out like little sunbathers in a row.
The Andros rock iguana eats leaves, flowers, and fruit. It plays an important role in the ecosystem by spreading seeds - when it eats fruit and wanders around, it deposits seeds in new places through its droppings, helping plants grow across the island. Many plants on Andros depend on iguanas to spread them around.
Baby iguanas hatch from eggs buried in the warm sand. They emerge looking like miniature versions of adults and must immediately find food and shelter on their own. The sandy cays are perfect for nesting because the sun warms the eggs naturally, doing the work of an incubator.
The Andros rock iguana is listed as a vulnerable species, which means scientists are keeping a careful eye on it to make sure its numbers stay healthy. National parks on Andros protect important iguana habitat, ensuring these magnificent lizards have safe places to live, sunbathe, and lay their eggs.