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Why do iguanas have spikes on their backs?

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I would guess that it's mostly for intimidation. The ones on the back are actually pretty soft. The ones on the tail, on the other hand, are rigid and can be a problem if the lizard uses its tail like a whip, which is usually its first defense mechanism. read more

It’s largely for show. In actuality, the spines are not very sharp or even rigid. But a predator does not know that, and may think twice about trying to attack there as predators tend to learn that sharp-looking objects could hurt them. read more

But a predator does not know that, and may think twice about trying to attack there as predators tend to learn that sharp-looking objects could hurt them. This page may be out of date. Save your draft before refreshing this page. read more

Since desert iguanas rarely have to swim, they probably don't need a middorsal frill if it is only useful during swimming. Similarly, the chuckwalla, another relative of the green iguana and another desert dweller, does not have a frill. That means the frill is most likely an adaptation for swimmers who swim with their tails. read more

Maybe the spikes are there because our Creator wanted them to be. As pointed out to me on many occasions, some questions simply have no answers. This represents an amalgamation of all the responses I received during my search for an answer. read more

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Top 10 Must-Know Iguana Care Sheet Facts - ZoomTens
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