The so-called third eye, or parietal eye, is a photoreceptor, but the iguana doesn’t “see” through it. Rather than conveying images to visually associated parts of the brain, it communicates with the pineal gland. Its action and function are autonomic, not intentionally directed, and help the pineal gland to secrete needed hormones in certain mixtures to regulate sleep/wake cycles and to help the lizard orient its body toward heat sources in order to regulate its internal temperature.
The iguana is not unique in possessing this organ. Almost all lizards do, as well as many fish, amphibians, and some other animals.
It is very difficult to see the parietal eye even if you know where to look. This is because it is covered by a thin layer of skin similar in color to the surrounding skin. It’s larger and more obvious in some species. My pet bearded dragon has a fairly obvious one, larger than most and distinctive in shape from adjacent skin/scale structures.
The average weight of a bat is about 1/2 pound. Given that and assuming a bat can eat it’s weight in one night, that colony would need to have a million bats in it.
The other night, I went out on my front porch to let my dog do her thing, when I saw all of these bats flying around! It was twilight, so they were easier to spot. I also noticed these large, flying (ugly) beetles on my porch and flying around in the air, and suddenly I knew why the bats were there! It was a feeding frenzy. I was very grateful the bats were there to eat them! Can you imagine the bugs we would have flying around without bats/birds/spiders? Very grateful for them!
I love iguanas & bats help keep the high rate of bad insects at a minimum. We need to take care of all the animals of this earth, be they insect, animal or otherwise! We will suffer if we reduce their numbers to extinction! I believe that!
Templo S.U.D. about 5 years ago
What did Jimmy, Bill, and Barack do to win a Grammy?
jimmjonzz Premium Member about 5 years ago
The so-called third eye, or parietal eye, is a photoreceptor, but the iguana doesn’t “see” through it. Rather than conveying images to visually associated parts of the brain, it communicates with the pineal gland. Its action and function are autonomic, not intentionally directed, and help the pineal gland to secrete needed hormones in certain mixtures to regulate sleep/wake cycles and to help the lizard orient its body toward heat sources in order to regulate its internal temperature.
The iguana is not unique in possessing this organ. Almost all lizards do, as well as many fish, amphibians, and some other animals.
It is very difficult to see the parietal eye even if you know where to look. This is because it is covered by a thin layer of skin similar in color to the surrounding skin. It’s larger and more obvious in some species. My pet bearded dragon has a fairly obvious one, larger than most and distinctive in shape from adjacent skin/scale structures.
whahoppened about 5 years ago
And that gets turned into guano EACH NIGHT?
Bilan about 5 years ago
The average weight of a bat is about 1/2 pound. Given that and assuming a bat can eat it’s weight in one night, that colony would need to have a million bats in it.
fuzzbucket Premium Member about 5 years ago
Whoa, we can use more batty ideas- like giving Grammys to promote your political agenda.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member about 5 years ago
The real scary thing is that there are 250 TONS of mosquitoes to eat!
khmo about 5 years ago
Shows how little a Grammy is worth and how easy it is to win one. Now, on to easy Nobels.
jbean02 about 5 years ago
Acted stupid!!!
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 5 years ago
Clinton could have won an Academy Award for his impeachment testimony.
joeatwork212 about 5 years ago
And 250 tons of insects is how much guano?
jasonsnakelover about 5 years ago
Did Reagan win anything as an actor? I saw something where Trump had done some acting. He may not have won a prize for it though.
Take care and may God bless.
Camiyami Premium Member about 5 years ago
The other night, I went out on my front porch to let my dog do her thing, when I saw all of these bats flying around! It was twilight, so they were easier to spot. I also noticed these large, flying (ugly) beetles on my porch and flying around in the air, and suddenly I knew why the bats were there! It was a feeding frenzy. I was very grateful the bats were there to eat them! Can you imagine the bugs we would have flying around without bats/birds/spiders? Very grateful for them!
WCraft Premium Member about 5 years ago
More bat colonies, more bat colonies!
ekke about 5 years ago
Woah! How much does a single colony of bats weigh, collectively? How much of that 250 tons gets converted into motion, water and CO2?
roy.hull about 5 years ago
spoken word albums
craigwestlake about 5 years ago
It’s little known, but iguanas have written 3 books credited to Nostradamus…
poopsypoo Premium Member about 5 years ago
I love iguanas & bats help keep the high rate of bad insects at a minimum. We need to take care of all the animals of this earth, be they insect, animal or otherwise! We will suffer if we reduce their numbers to extinction! I believe that!
the1951hapster about 5 years ago
And who do you think is gonna clean up all that guano?