Black Spiny-tailed Iguana Ctenosaura similis

The Black Ctenosaur is also called the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana, which is confusing and a misnomer: it is not black and another species, the Utila Spiny-tailed, is also called the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana. It is the largest and most common of 15 "Ctenosaura" spiny-tailed iguanas and is native to Mexico and Central America.

The spiny tails. Males can grow to over 4 feet (1.3 metres) in length.

Males have a larger crest and breeding males have orange and blue colouring around the head.

The Guinness book of Records states it is the fastest running lizard in the world, at just over 20 mph (35 km/h). They also climb well.

The photos on this page were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in Costa Rica.