Biochemical Studies on the Iguana

Abstract

Summary

Two species of large lizards, Iguana iguana rhinolopha (common iguana) and Ctenosaura acanthura (black iguana) were studied. The following analyses were performed on blood and/or plasma of both species: pH, CO₂, Cl, Na, K, Ca, Mg, protein, urea, uric acid, creatinine, glucose, hematocrit, oxygen capacity, and mean corpuscular volume. There was little difference in the average values for the two species with the exception of pH, CO₂, and chlorides. Although the total ionic concentration of the plasma was about the same for both, the Common Iguana appeared to be more alkaline than the Black Iguana. The urines and total ashes were analyzed for Na, K, Ca, Mg, and chloride. Uric acid, Na, K, and Ca analyses were done on dried excreta.