Burrow Site Selection by Black Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) at Palo Verde, Costa Rica

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Abstract
We studied the location and site selection of burrows of black iguana, Ctenosaura similis, at Palo Verde, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, in 1989 and 1990. Our study site included the environs of buildings as well as dry lowland deciduous forest. Iguana had burrows on earth banks, and in trees, logs and rocks with a higher frequency than occurred at randomly-selected points. Burrows differed from random points in having less cover over the entrance and within 1 m (both rock and vegetation) than did the random points. Temperatures at the burrow entrance were cooler than at the random points, although air temperatures did not differ significantly. We suggest that the use of burrows and selection of burrow sites by black iguanas may relate to predation pressures, thermal constraints and daily activity patterns.

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