It is common to see iguanas bob their heads but why do they do it? When I first got my iguana, I saw that it is bobbing its head quite often. So, I went and dug for the answer online, and here is what I found.
Iguanas bob their heads to communicate either with humans or other animals. There are many types of head bobbing and each could have a different meaning. Anything from a friendly gesture to a sign of attack.
Unlike humans, iguana communicates mostly through body language and head bobbing is one of them. Knowing what your iguana is saying when it bobs its head is important, especially if you own a pet iguana yourself. It could also prevent you from unnecessary injuries.
In this article, we will be discussing the type of head bobs iguanas make and what they mean.
Common Reasons for Iguanas Head Bobbing
There is no specific age for when iguanas start to bob their heads. Most of the time, this action of bobbing their head is used in an aggressive way to show dominance.
They are usually performed by larger male iguanas that are secure in their surrounding. However, there could also be other reasons for iguanas to bob their heads both for males and females. Head bobbing can be fast or slow.
To know exactly what an iguana is trying to say, you have to combine the head bobbing with its actions and posture. Here are three head-bobbing patterns you will commonly see in iguanas.
Territorial Head Bobbing
Both genders of iguanas can be very territorial and will attack anything that comes into its territory. To confirm the head bobbing is territorial, here are the other actions and posture the iguana will make.
Extended Dewlap – A dewlap is a loose skin underneath an iguanas jaw. If it is extended out, it is being confrontational.
Eyes Fixed On Offender – The iguana’s eye will be locked on to whatever that he wants to attack.
Chest Puffed Up – Just like humans, iguanas can puff their chest up and fill it with air. This way, they look more intimidating and dominant.
Opening Its Mouth – This is a warning sign, telling you not to mess with it or it will bite you.
Raising Body Off The Ground When Walking – This is combined with the chest-puffing up, doing it while walking.
Tail Wagging – It is annoyed, stay out of the area.
If you spot at least a few of these actions or postures being performed with fast head bobbing, there is a high chance that the iguana is about to attack.
Friendly Head Bobbing
When iguanas bob their heads, it could also indicate a greeting. This is especially true when the iguana hasn’t seen a human or reptile they know for quite a while.
The head bobbing is a subtle way of saying, “Hey, I haven’t seen you for a while, how have you been?” Other than that, these friendly head bobs could be used to say thank you for the food.
Again, its actions and posture will be the determining factors. Here are some actions and posture that iguanas will perform, combined with head bobbing, to show that they are friendly.
Relaxed Dewlap – Opposite to confrontational extended dewlap, iguanas relax their loose skin to show they are being friendly.
Eyes Relaxed – This might be a little harder to spot but if you pay attention to their eyes, you can see whether they are relaxed or not.
Eyes Not Locked In – This is when an iguana is bobbing its head without having any focus on one particular object.
Chest Relaxed – Again, opposite to the puffed chest when being territorial. The chest is relaxed and low on the ground.
When you spot any of these being performed by an iguana, there should be nothing to worry about.
Video: Friendly vs Territorial Head Bobbing
Here’s a video showing you visually how these actions and posture combined with head boobing look like when iguanas are friendly and when they are territorial.
Mating Head Bobs
During the breeding season, male iguanas will do another type of head bobbing as a mating call. This type of head-bobbing is very unique compared to the two other head bobbing mentioned above.
Male iguanas will do these mating head bobs by vibrating their heads quickly from side to side. When a male iguana does this, it means they want to mate with you or wanting to bite you to hold on.
Video: Mating vs Friendly Head Bobs
Here’s is an example of how a mating head bob looks like compared to a friendly head bob.
Males vs Females Head Bobbing
Head bobbing can be quite different when comparing male and female iguanas. Male iguanas usually bob their heads more smoothly than female iguanas.
Female iguanas bob their heads in a rather jerky and erratic motion. They look as if they are still practicing how to bob their heads properly.
Most of the time, female iguanas bob their heads when they feel irritated by other iguanas, not so much at humans. They do perform this head bob as a warning sign.
Some of the things that annoy female iguanas are the attentions of a male iguana or when some other iguanas are in her basking spot. Yes, female iguanas can be territorial too but not as common as male iguanas.
Most male iguanas bob their heads smooth but there are exceptions to this. Male iguanas with a “lower-ranking” bob more like females.
They do this to show the dominant male iguanas that they are low profile and more like females. This will show the “king” iguana that they are no threat or competition.
Another reason for a male iguana to bob like females is isolation. However, it can be fixed over time with the presence of other male iguanas or putting it in front of a reflection of itself for a few hours. After that, the male iguana head bobs will be executed more like males.
What to Do When Iguanas Bob Their Heads?
If you own a pet iguana, it is important to know what message they are trying to get across to you when it bobs its head. Read their body language by identifying their actions and posture.
If your iguana if giving you a friendly bob, you can continue doing what you are doing. On the other hand, if your iguana is showing signs of a territorial head bob, it is best to back off if you do not want to get attacked.
Iguanas can be very dangerous if you disrespect them. Check out this article to see exactly why iguanas are so dangerous and how to prevent them.
Situations Where Iguanas May Bob Their Heads
Here are some situations that may make iguanas of each gender bob their heads.
Male Iguanas:
- Greeting owner good morning
- Requesting his owner to leave and prepare breakfast.
- When about to get into the bath.
- After climbing up to the rim of the bathtub when the bath is done.
- When getting down from the rim of the bathtub.
- Right after walking away from the bathroom.
- Once the iguana reaches its enclosure.
- When around its property (Same as how dogs pee to mark its place but done visually).
Female Iguanas:
- Getting irritated.
- Wanting another iguana to get out of her space.
- Asking other iguanas to go away.
- When she’s not interested in mating with a particular male.
Conclusion
Male and females iguanas bob their heads for several reasons. However, most of the time, head bobbing is used to show dominance.
Other than that, head bobbing could also be a friendly gesture or a mating call. To understand why an iguana is bobbing its head, you have to pay attention to its actions and posture.
Iguanas can be very dangerous when you spot this head bobbing, especially fast head bobs. These animals are not too hard to read if you know what to look out for.
Over time, you will know exactly what your iguana is trying to tell you just by looking at its body language.
