Habitats of West Indian Rock Iguanas Habitats of West Indian Rock Iguanas Karen Graham Rick Hudson Grey in coloration, this iguana is covered in the red soil of its nesting area. West Indian iguanas inhabit dry subtropical thorn forests in the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. While Cyclura are ground dwellers, depending heavily on the presence of rocky crevices to serve as retreats, Iguana delicatissima is primarily arboreal. Both require sandy areas with appropriate soil conditions in which to lay their eggs.
Most species live for many decades and take several years to reach sexual maturity.
Social organization ranges from systems in which adult males are highly aggressive and territorial to large groups which appear to coexist peacefully. Mating is seasonal, with a single clutch of eggs each year, usually laid in May or June. Raptors, cuckoos, herons, and snakes are the only natural predators of West Indian iguanas, and then usually only of juveniles. West Indian iguanas are almost exclusively herbivorous, consuming a wide variety of plant foods. For this reason, West Indian iguanas are likely to be important seed dispersers for many endemic plants.