As more and more habitat is developed and the iguanas are left on smaller and smaller islands, this problem will probably become more serious. Each spring, in time with the onset of the mating season, the iguanas go through a period where display intensity increases, especially when males approach females with a courtship display. As far as we know, females mate only once, but how the female chooses a particular male is a mystery. However, the communication between these lizards is complex, and we believe that there may be displays for submission, rejection, acceptance, and a whole host of other possible outcomes. This behavioral complexity, while fascinating, makes it difficult to study the social structure and language of this species.
Rock iguanas are social animals, unlike most lizards which tend to shun others of their own kind.
Most mature iguanas are missing one or more toes from these battles, and we have handled and observed some iguanas that are missing a foot here, the whole tail there. Obviously, these fights are dangerous and costly to the iguanas, but despite the fact that fights are rather common, we still don't know what they are fighting for. There are many theories as to why animals fight. A common idea is that males must battle each other in order to impress females, who then choose the victorious males as their mates. For the TCI's iguana, this theory may be correct, but so little is known about the reproductive success of different individuals that we can't even be sure that there is any female choice at all.