When the World Cup Meets the World of Iguanas
The FIFA World Cup of soccer (known as football to the rest of the world) is being held right here in North America across Canada, the USA, and Mexico! Of special importance to me and my comrades in the Iguana Specialist Group (ISG) of the IUCN, several of the countries competing on the pitch are also home to magnificent native iguanas.
One of the ISG’s talented scientists, Daniel, decided to blend sports with science by creating unique iguana team mascots. Each illustration includes the country, the specific geographic area being represented, and the scientific name of the native iguana portrayed.
When looking at these incredible sports-iguanas, there are a few brilliant biological details to notice:
- Head Shape and Scales: Look for unique variations across species.
- Spines and Tails: Notice the ribbed tails of the Cyclura species and the spiny tails of the Ctenosaura species.
- Local Backgrounds: The upper right corner features each country’s flag, the lower right shows the football association logo, and the background displays the lizard’s native local landscape.
Meet the Qualifying Competitors
Two teams who qualified for play in the World Cup are Ecuador and Colombia. Representing Ecuador is the Galapagos Island Pink Land Iguana (Conolophus marthae), which is one of the newest species of iguana to be identified.
Most people are much more familiar with the species representing team Colombia: Iguana iguana, or the common green iguana. While green iguanas are the most common species in the pet trade, they have unfortunately become a problematic invasive species when introduced to non-native habitats around the world. If you look closely at Colombia’s mascot, you can spot the large, circular subtympanic scales on its cheeks.
Two other countries whose teams qualified for the games are also the tournament host nations: Mexico and the USA. I am absolutely delighted that the USA is represented by the Chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus). The chuckwalla is the northernmost member of the iguana family, and I love that its background showcases a classic Sonoran Desert landscape complete with a native saguaro cactus. I appreciate these little guys so much that I’ve even included them in some of my own children’s stories!
Dressing the Rest of the Jersey-Wearing Lizards
Having mascots for the active World Cup teams is wonderful, but iguana specialists are a very jealous group. We decided that if one iguana species gets a football jersey, then all of them should have a jersey!
Daniel happily continued his work, attiring each magnificent iguana species in appropriate, country-related colors alongside native landscapes and local wildlife:
- Cyclura cornuta (The Rhinoceros Iguana): Known for the horn-like outgrowths on its snout, this species is sometimes found in the pet trade.
- The Fiji Iguana (Brachylophus): If you are a fan of CBS’s Survivor in recent seasons, you might recognize this stunning green lizard from the transition shots between scenes. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of them in person!
- The Bahamas Iguanas: The Bahamas has an abundance of different iguana species that evolved uniquely across the various islands, making them some of the most colorful lizards on the planet.
- The Cayman Islands Iguanas: The Caymans are home to a couple of unique species, though the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is easily the more famous of the two. The native parrots depicted in Daniel’s initial sketch are unfortunately the wrong color for true Caymanian parrots, but he is already working to correct them!
Daniel’s artwork is not only highly entertaining, but it contains a surprising amount of scientific information. This panel of sports-iguanas represents a beautiful cross-section of these amazing lizards. If you’d like to know more about global iguana conservation efforts, you can visit the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group Official Page.
I might not have a single favorite human team to root for this season, but I will definitely be cheering on every single squad that hails from a country where iguanas are native. Go Igs!
Score a Copy of My Lizard Audio Scripts!
This isn’t the first time I’ve written about the incredible adventures of our favorite scaled friends! If you love full-cast audio scripts and captivating storytelling, you won’t want to miss my multi-part audio play, Shrine of the Seven Iguanas.
It is a thrilling mystery packed with humor, high-stakes adventure, and plenty of reptilian charm. It’s absolutely perfect for reading aloud, performing, or enjoying with the whole family. Grab your copy today to bring these talkative, magnificent reptiles to life and see how they handle an epic quest of their own. Explore “Shrine of the Seven Iguanas” here!