Two days ago I commented that iguanas along the beach are common in Costa Rica. On a long walk south from Playa Langosta, I saw this iguana a little after the iguana I posted the day before yesterday. This one looks more dinosaur-like than the iguana posted the day before yesterday.Yesterday I walked along the beach from our Langosta condo into the main part of Tamarindo and cam across iguanas that looked like this one, plus a cute baby green iguana and out condo gate, and a gecko hanging from the ceiling of our balcony/patio. Just a typical three-reptile day.
i hear that iguanas can be quite tasty as well. any thoughts on this?
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing. :-)
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A nice photo of the iguana. And you're right, Dave, they do look like something from Jurassic Park. I'll pass on having them for lunch though :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you are able to see such diverse wildlife on your walks. The animals common to you and to your area are like Aliens to us. We would be afraid of these if they were suddenly in our area.
ReplyDeletebARE-eYED sUN,
ReplyDeleteIn response to your question about eating iguana, it is still eaten to a limited extent by some Costa Ricans. It is prepared as a home-made meal. I have never seen iguana on the menu in a restaurant and it is not carried in the super market. I have had only one opportunity to sample it.
On our way back after a wildlife viewing boat trip, we stopped for lunch at a little grass shack in a little local village. They prepared traditional Costa Rican food, and they cooked up a little iguana as part of one dish. We did not want to appear rude and we had a small sample. I know it is a cliche, but "tastes like chicken" is a suitable description.
What a proud, ancient creature you've captured there. I enlarged this to see the details of its markings, its folds, its face. Well worth it. Nice shot, Dave.
ReplyDeleteHe looks so alert. I believe that Costa Rica prohibits eating Iguanas to protect them and that most Costa Rican's no longer eat them, but those who immigrate to work in Costa Rica from Nicaragua still eat Iguanas as they can do so in Nicaragua.
ReplyDeleteIquanas are becoming a huge problem in South Florida...our daughter in the Ft. Lauderdale area has 10-15 hanging around a pond and trees in her back yard. And they grow so big!
ReplyDeleteDo you iguanas swim in the ocean?
I double checked today and was advised that iguanas are protected here and it is illegal to eat them. Perhaps that has changed since the time of our first trip here years ago, which was when we were offered a taste of iguana.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen iguanas in the ocean.
In a drive in the country today here in Costa Rica, much of which was on small dirt roads, we probably saw a total of about 50 iguanas. I had to slow down the car or steer to avoid running over them on the dirt roads multiple times.
Cool shot. Are they dangerous? Do they bite? Are there a lot of them? Hello form EAGAN daily photo in Minnesota, USA
ReplyDelete