Iguana

[PetKal]

Yes, it is alive ;)
(Hand-held, no crop, no PP)

[Paul A]

Nice shot, looks like a black Iguana, genus Ctenomys a large carnivorous beast as opposed to Iguana iguana a large mainly herbivorous animal.

[PetKal]

Thanx Paul, I think this is the common iguana of Yucatan peninsula, Ctenosaura Similis, a fairly mature male.

The taxonomy of iguanas seems a bit confusing, so I will not use one of its english names. However, the natives also refer to it as "bamboo chicken" (carrobo) when considered in a culinary context. Naturally, they say it tastes like chicken ("pollo").

As to its diet, I have never seen one eat anything but vegetable matter....they also love french fries and bananas. ;) They may be opportunistic carnivores as well...

One large male almost took my finger off when I tried to hand feed it. The dentition of those beasts is not unlike those of some sharks, truly razor sharp. I gues I was lucky to have only had a fingertip deeply sliced.