April 17, 2011                   Local News Page 2

Wow! the crowds jam the Rincon de Guayabitos beach! Bill Bell Photograph

No More Shy Guy: Iguanas Looking for Love  

© Tara A. Spears

For years I have cheerfully shared my garden flowers with all sorts of wildlife, enjoying the antics of birds, butterflies, and reptiles. When readers, friends, and neighbors complained about the iguanas, I responded, “Just leave them alone-they won’t bite you.”  I changed my mind about these typically shy critters in the last week as my two resident iguanas suddenly became aggressive- coming at me instead of scurrying away!  This is radically different behavior than what I’ve previously seen from iguanas in all the years of topical gardening.  I wondered if they were ill- nope, they don’t get rabies; further research explained the change-they are males in rut.

Understanding Iguanas: The population of green iguanas is decreasing in the wild due to the destruction of their habitat, exporting, and over-hunting.  In parts of Latin America, the natives have long-eaten green iguanas, calling them Chicken of the tree or Bamboo chicken. All iguanas are primarily herbivorous, eating a variety of flowers, leaves, stems, and fruit, but they will opportunistically eat small animals, eggs, and insects.

These reptiles are common in the lower altitudes of tropical Mexico. Feeding time will usually be late morning, after the iguanas wake up with the sun and find a nice basking spot to warm up.  After feeding, iguanas typically will return to basking to obtain the heat necessary to digest their food. Iguanas are excellent swimmers, so don’t be surprised to find them in your pool. Since they are ectotherms, they require the energy from the sunlight for their bodies to function, thus requiring them to sleep through the night and stay awake during the day. Their poop is generous and they leave it on our pool decks, docks, sidewalks, and rooftops. The two types of iguanas that are in the Riviera Nayarit are the Green Iguana and the Mexican Black Spinytail, although there are hundreds of species worldwide.

iguanas tend to grow to a size of 5-7 feet (two meters) long, and can weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kilos).  Approximately one-third of the length of the body is the tail. Green Iguanas have a dorsal crest and a large rounded scale on each jowl, with the crest being larger on the males. They have a baggy dewlap hanging from the neck which they wag when mating or defending their territory. Despite its name, the Green Iguana may be brown, gray, black or dark green. The males exhibit orange markings when they are mating. Babies and juveniles are bright green, and adults have black bands on their sides and tails.

 The male Mexican Spinytail is mostly black with white and yellowish blotches;  females can have an additional greenish tint. Their most distinctive feature is the dragon-like spiny fringe that runs down the center of their upper back and tail, hence the name. Coming into rut causes an orange coloration in the males. Mexican Spinytail babies are bright green with black markings. Mexican Spinytails can grow up to four feet (1.3 m) in length,and weigh about 15 pounds (7 kilos). Wary and alert, the Mexican Spinytail is not a common sight in the wild. According to expert Virginia Aronson, black iguanas are secretive, shy, and hide in burrows they dig under sidewalks, cement seawalls, or rock piles. See photos taken in my neighborhood.

Sex iguana style: To learn about iguana rut, herpetoculturist Melissa Kaplan is an excellent source of information. She has studied and published several books about iguanas over the last 30 years. I found her research to be very helpful to understanding my resident iguanas and their behavior.

Iguanas in the wild attain sexual maturity at about 18 months of age. Males will develop orange or rusty red coloration on his head and neck, back, and the tops of the legs, besides their behavior will become aggressive. You will see posturing, including increased head bobbing, restlessness, lateral compression of the torso ("hatchet mode" or "hatcheting"), dewlap flaring, crab-walking, and ritualized tail movements. In the wild, males are in season for about 30 days. During that time, they exhibit the color and other changes. Since females roam throughout the territories of several males, and are themselves receptive to mating for only 7-10 days, males mate with several females during the month they are in breeding mode. A female who isn't receptive is left alone after a generally simple rebuff (head bobbing, foot swatting, or tail lashing).  Since males mate with potentially 15-18 females in the wild (they generally mate on one day, rest the next, mate the third day, rest the fourth, etc.).  Keep in mind, too, that females don't have to be mated, or even within a mile, of a male to become gravid (carrying eggs), so not only would you still have a male on the make, you could conceivably (no pun intended) have 15+ gravid females, who can have potentially 30-60 offspring. So that means each horny male can produce 450 additional iguanas a season! Iguanas in rut go potty more than their usual once or twice a day- males do it as a sort of territorial marker, females because as the eggs start taking up more room in their abdomen, their internal organs get compressed and they are unable to store wastes as long as they used to. This explains why there has been more mess in my yard.

Snakes and lizards,including iguanas, (saurians) have a bi-lobed reproductive organ called the hemipene. This organ is tucked away in the tail, emerging from the body through the vent, generally during mating when it is inserted into the female's vent. Some males, such as green iguanas, may ejaculate during breeding season outside of mating attempts.  The gravid female has an increased activity level and exhibits digging behavior-which I do not appreciate in my garden. In the wild, females build nests by digging tunnels and chambers in the soil, in which they lay their eggs.                                                               

Iguana body language:  Since we have to coexist with these reptiles, it’s good to learn Iguana language.  They don't make a lot of noises so you have to pay close attention to body language.  What looks like a "smile" is actually a snarl.  It's a warning for you to back off. I enjoy watching the iguana antics, but recognize that since they are wild animals these movements are indicative of their attitude and should be respected. Both sexes do head bobbing, but males do it more frequently than females. Bobbing can start at any age. As it is typically used in an aggressive way or to assert dominance, and it is generally executed by iguanas that are secure in their surroundings. Females generally bob in a rather jerky, erratic manner - it almost looks as if they are practicing, just learning how to bob. Females bob when irritated (generally at another iguana, less frequently at humans), such as when annoyed by the attentions of a male, or when warning another iguana away from their basking area.

An iguana’s teeth, which are recessed and attached to the inner edge of the jaw bone, may not be clearly visible at first glance, but they’re there.  In fact, a full grown iguana has 120 razor sharp serrated edge teeth capable of inflicting serious injuries.  Their teeth are instrumental to their survival since they assist them to efficiently slice through leaves and other plant matter essential to their diet.   

There are different reasons an iguana might bite, and different types of 'bites.'  They range from the 'kiss' to the 'death grip.'  All are potentially dangerous, but it is important to know what your iguana may have had in mind when he bit you. Another type of bite is the "slash and tear". This is an aggressive one. It means to show you who is the boss. It can come without warning but might be preceded by a snarl (a slightly opened mouth) or puffing and walking sideways while glaring at you. Watch the eyes. If they are wide open, look out! If the tail is starting to twitch, back off immediately.

Usually if you leave iguanas alone, they will not approach you or threaten you or your pets; only if cornered will iguanas bite, scratch, or whip you with their tail in self-defense. Both males and females are territorial and will defend the trees they live in and the area around them--including your entire backyard. Since they are prolific in the tropics, if you dispose of an iguana in your yard, another will come to take its place. If you prefer not to share your yard with iguanas, it is best to iguana-proof your home rather than trying to kill off the animals one at a time.

What to do to make your yard less appealing to Iguanas:     

 Here are the simple steps you can take in order to make your yard less inviting to iguanas and away from your house:

Semana Santa- Mexico Celebrates Spring to Hit the Beach

©Tara A. Spears

Just when the majority of snow birds and international winter visitors have journeyed home to northern climes and  the beachside villages return to a sleepy pace, the Riviera Nayarit rebounds with the energy of the national two week Easter holiday season.

Holy week, Semana santa, and the week after Easter, Pascura, which is April 17-30 this year, brings thousands of families from all over Mexico to enjoy the Jaltemba Bay beach. April tends to be a hot and dry time of the year throughout Mexico, making the beach a magnet for those wanting to escape the city.  

The area goes into party mode: exuberant children and adults fill the beaches to bursting, crowds dance along the clogged streets to strolling musicians and celebrate with fireworks, traditional foods and lots of beer! No one can out do the Mexicans for enjoying life with impromptu fiestas for fun-in-the-sun. As with so many of its delightful customs, Mexico originally started Semana Santa as a solemn religious occasion from the Spanish liturgical calendar but added a spirited Mexican interpretation that celebrates spring and renewal. While many parts of Mexico observe the holiday with passion plays and processions, the more secular west coast area is a feast of popular cuisine.

Thirsty revelers guzzle aguas frescas- water flavored with local tropical fruits or coconut, vast quantities of tequila and beer; and the abacoa and cerviche tacos from the roving vendors are in high demand.  Holy week is the traditional start of Mexico’s ice cream season: pushcarts that are loaded with tubs of ice cream or the popular fresh fruit ice bars on a stick, called paletas, roam the beaches and village streets calling out “nievees”. Vendors also sell snow cone-like shaved ices known as raspados. The dulces regionales-candies made from coconut, tamarind and other regional ingredients- are sold by industrious vendors trudging with wheelbarrows through the sand.

Other favorite foods include the delicious pambazos, which are filled rolls bathed in a spicy salsa that are prepared with a choice of chicken or cheese filling. Plátanos, fried plantains (a type of banana) are topped with sweetened cream make a wonderful snack.  The pleasant smell of the ever-present Buñuelos, fried sweet dough balls topped with marmalade or rolled in powdered sugar, carry on the ocean breezes. Recipe follows.                                                      

Relax and people watch:  with every hotel and bungalow overbooked for the two weeks of Easter/Semana Santa, the hordes of out of towners will naturally be utilizing the area stores and restaurants, so expect to wait in lines.  Grocery stores have staples fly off the shelves as quickly as items are stocked; tour buses stake out parking places throughout the residential areas; and all other types of shops have brisk souvenir and hat sales making it a good idea to shop early to avoid long lines. In spite of the congestion, the atmosphere is jubilant. Celebrate spring break by enjoying Mexico’s natural bounty and wonderful cuisine.

Bunuelos:    These traditional Mexican desserts make a perfect sweet snack. . It is thought that funnel cakes, churros, doughnuts, waffles, and cream puffs may be variations of the simple bunuelo. Easy to make at home or get them from street vendors in Mexico.  Finished bunuelos are similar to fritters or Bunuelos can be made several different ways. Some people roll them flat; others cook them in the shape of a ball or cut them in strips and twist them. Regardless of the shape you decide to make them, finish with a topping such as jam, cream, sugar, honey, or melted cheese..

Recipe for Bunuelos

This sweet pastry is good anytime!

What You Need

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 egg
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
• sunflower oil for frying
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

How to Make It

Add the flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter to the mix and use your hands to incorporate it into the dry ingredients until the mixture feels like coarse corn meal. Add the egg and just a little milk at a time until you have a dough formed. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

Divide the dough into 6 even pieces. Roll them into balls. Place them on a baking mat or on a floured surface and flatten them into a small circle. Use a rolling pin to roll them out into a larger circle. You want them about the size of a tea saucer. Do not roll them too thin.

Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a 4 inch skillet over medium. When the oil is hot, add one piece of dough at a time. Let it fry until lightly golden before flipping over to cook the other side. When both sides are golden brown, drain it on a paper towel.

Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a large ziplock bag. After the cooked pastries have cooled a little but not completely, place into the bag and shake until it is covered in the cinnamon sugar. Remove. They can be eaten warm or after they have cooled.

Makes 6.

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Window on Marine Life: Jaltemba Bay Tide pools

                     © Tara A. Spears

One of the favorite activities along the Riviera Nayarit is strolling the gorgeous beaches. But most people stay on the sand and miss out on a remarkable phenomenon, the Pacific Ocean tide pools.  It’s worth the extra exertion to climb the rocky outcroppings at either end of the Jaltemba Bay to view the tide pools that contain a wealth of marine critters. Tide pools are a unique and brutal habitat where the ocean meets the land. This tidal zone is continually shaped by the actions of sun, wind, water, and rock. The sun bears down, heating exposed surfaces and organisms, ocean breezes blow and contribute to the wave action, erosion, and drying of exposed plants and animals; the ever changing water level requires tide pool inhabitants to have adaptive characteristics; and the rocks are etched by the force of the pounding tides constantly approaching and receding.   If you want a perfect spot to meditate or just enjoy the natural beauty of the tropical ocean, sitting beside a tide pool is a guaranteed de-stressor.

Motivated by my favorite two budding biologists, Anna and Isabella, right photos, I visited the tide pools numerous times during the last week. In the rocky outcroppings, portions of the shoreline are regularly covered and uncovered by the water movements of the tides. In order to survive, tide pool organisms must prevent being washed away by the tidal waves, keep from drying out in the sunlight of low tide, and avoid being eaten.  Life is tough for plants and animals that live in tide pools, one of the most daunting environments for sea life!  I had told the girls that we might see starfish, crabs, small fish, anemones, urchins, barnacles, or other sea plants in a tide pool so we knew what to look for. Fortunately, we did identify several types of marine life.

Tide pools can be subdivided in four zones: the splash zone, high tide, mid-tide, and low tide areas. Waves that bring in much-needed nutrients and moisture can also carry unprotected animals out to sea. An additional characteristic of the tide pool environment is the constantly changing salinity (salt concentration.) Animals living in the tide pools must be able to tolerate wide salinity variations.

Due to the logistics of exploring with young children, we primarily studied the splash and high tide zones. In the splash zone, which is the area above the high tide water line and mainly depends on sea spray and mist for water coverage,  live lichen and barnacles.  We located cute little fish that were silver with black stripes besides several types of snails, crabs, and urchins.  All of these species are adapted to withstand long periods of exposure.

At the high tide pools, the area of intertidal that is covered by most high tides, we found many barnacles, limpets and chitons- all animals with superior sticking adaptations and hard protective shells.  The array of colors and textures of these sessile arthropods is fascinating. Another wonder that was plentiful are the anemone that live in colonies. The anemones are squishy and wet when out of the water but open into a concise and beautiful flower-like patch when submerged.

The next time you walk the Jaltemba Bay beach, don’t miss out on the treasures that live in the rocky tide pools. As my granddaughter, Anna, so accurately observed, “It’s really special!”