Distribution: Central America and the northern regions of South America as well as South Florida and some islands of the Caribbean. Size: 40 - 79 in. (1 - 2 m) long. Diet and Habitat: Prefers areas of dense vegetation along the waterways of tropical rain forests. They climb tree trunks and branches with remarkable speed and swim with great agility. Living 40 to 50 feet above water provides a relatively safe habitat and a dive away from a quick escape. The young feed mainly on insects, while the adults are almost exclusively vegetarian. In some areas the green iguana is known as the "Bamboo Chicken" and valued as a source of food.