In the forests of Fiji, courtship comes with a twist. While many animals sing, dance or fight for a mate, the critically endangered crested iguana prefers head bobbing and hissing. BBC Earth has captured some of these rare behaviours on film, offering a close look at one of nature’s more unusual love displays.
Life Among the Trees in Fiji
The crested iguana lives only on Yadua Taba Island, north of Fiji’s main island. Once found on several islands, their shrinking numbers have confined them to this small, forest-covered home. They spend their lives in the treetops, using long toes and tails to move with balance along even the thinnest branches. Herbivores by nature, they feed on leaves, fruit and flowers.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, about 13,000 crested iguanas remain, all densely packed into Yadua Taba. Conservation work is under way to protect the native forest, as habitat loss remains the biggest threat. The International Iguana Foundation says the species has become a symbol of Fiji’s biodiversity conservation, a reminder of the island’s unique wildlife.
Head Bobs, Hisses and the Lek System
Breeding takes place during Fiji’s rainy season, from February to April. Males gather in groups, using a lek system to compete for female attention. They do not wrestle over territory like many other lizards but engage in showy displays. The males bob their heads, puff out their throats and hiss like birds during courtship.
Females observe from a distance, selecting their ideal mate. When egg-laying time arrives, they descend from the trees to excavate burrows in hot sand. Two to six eggs are contained in a typical clutch, which incubates eight to nine months before hatching in October. This coincides with the colder, wetter season, when vegetation is lush and hatchlings can graze for themselves at once.
As with other iguanas, crested iguanas also do not offer parental care. With their lengthy incubation time and lek courtship, crested iguanas stand out as unique among cold-blooded animals, making them rare and attractive.
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