Trio in Iguana Park, Guayaquil, Ecuador Postcard

Three iguanas have staked out a prime spot to bask in the sun in the "Iguana Park' in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where hundreds of iguanas live. The small park, formally named after Simon Bolivar, is across the street from the Cathedral of Saint Peter in the centre of Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. A statue of Simon Bolivar stands in the park, but the colourful reptiles get a lot more attention.. The iguanas, which are vegetarians, are very used to people and are harmless, although they do have sharp claws and might mistake your finger for a carrot. Several pushed right past when I was squatting to take photos of other iguanas feasting on lettuce at meal time. Park rangers feed the iguanas every day, and they come running! Iguanas are a genus (Iguana iguana) of herbivorous lizards native to tropical areas of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. A small pond contains turtles, including snapping turtles (so don't go wading!) and koi fish. Photo is rendered in a watercolor style.