The nesting behavior of the green iguana, Iguana iguana, in the llanos of Venezuela

The dispersion of nests and the migratory movements of female iguanas, Iguana iguana, were examined in the central llanos of Venezuela. In an area of extensive sandy soil, nests were dispersed, while at two other sites, where soft soil was scarce, the iguana nests were aggregated in small (<25 m dia.) sandy patches. Four radiotelemetered females used moderately straight terrestrial paths to reach nest sites 0.8 to 1.5 km from their home sites, and they returned along nearly identical paths after about 7 days at the nest site. Females sharing a mating territory were observed to nest at sites 2.0 km apart, indicating probable gene flow between isolated nesting areas.