Hey repti girl!
I remember reading about turning a lizard on his back when reading about WD"s on TRISCHA"S WD PAGE a long time ago....this is taken from her website:
"Lizards do not have diaphragms. The diaphragm in a human is located under the lungs. It helps our lungs expand and contract to bring in air or expel air from our lungs. The diaphragm in humans also helps keep the abdominal organs from getting into the lung cavity.
Reptiles don't have this so they use the their ribs to expand or contract their lungs and fill them or expel air from their lungs.
When a lizard is placed on it's back the abdominal organs may displace and apply pressure to the lizards lung cavity and rib cage. This may make the act of breathing very difficult for your lizard. So when you turn your dragon on it's back and it closes it's eyes, it's probably not sleeping ... it might be zoning out to some degree though ... it's most likely concentrating on breathing.
A reptile left on it's back for a period of time will often die of suffocation ... and in some cases exposure such as a turtle turned on it's back that cant right itself, baking in the hot sun.
"
As far as your Iguana's behavior--I forwarded your post to Bob MacCarger because he rehabilitates green igs and would know behaviorial cues more then I. I do however look forward to hearing what he says and watching as your Ig matures.
They are great looking lizards....Be careful though!
Have you seen the LIZARD LOVER guy out on CA? He lives with many Iguanas and claims that the reason he does not get attcked is because he allows the males to see each other periodically through the glass---he swares it works
