The evil iguana gang is at it again in the upcoming Night Buddies and Evil School Bus #264 (out later this year!). They’re flying all over the Borough in an old school bus picking up road kill. But why? That’s what John and Crosley must figure out. But before we reveal too much about their new adventure, let’s talk about iguanas. In 2014, before many of our current Night Buddies fans were even born, we had a long discussion about the iguana gang and iguanas in general.

Let’s revisit our conversation in case you weren’t around, don’t remember, or are a little fuzzy on the details about these large lizards. So jump into the way back machine and set the dial to September 30, 2014.

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If you’ve read the Night Buddies books, you know that the iguana gang stirs up all sorts of trouble for John and Crosley. They are a greedy, manipulative, and evil gang—all the things that Night Buddies are not. But maybe we are just misunderstanding the iguanas because we don’t know enough about them! So here are five of the most interesting facts we know about iguanas that might help you understand the gang better.

  1. Iguanas are among the most popular exotic animals kept as pets around the world, and because of this, they’ve become an endangered species. If I were part of an endangered species, I might be a little crabby too! 2023 update: there are forty-five species of iguanas, and several of them are endangered by changing climate and development encroaching on their habitat. If you do want an iguana as a pet, make sure it is not one of the endangered species.
  2. Iguanas can be found in Mexico, Central America, and several islands in the Pacific and the Caribbean. The iguanas in the Night Buddies books must feel a little out of place in the city. They might be acting out because they aren’t familiar with the area.
  3. Iguanas are herbivores, meaning they feed on the leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of 100 different plant species. There’s a reason they don’t like pineapple cheesecake . . . it doesn’t fit in with their very healthy diet.
  4. Predators can break off an iguana’s tail, though it grows back without permanent damage. So the iguana gang can feel pretty confident going out to fight, knowing that a part of their bodies will grow back!
  5. Iguanas can decide to end their own lives if they feel they are not cared for by their owners. So the iguana gang really has to look out for one another and make sure each member is taken care of so that doesn’t happen!

So there you have it. The iguana gang might have their reasons for being mean and greedy creatures, but it doesn’t make them any more likable. Maybe one day, they’ll learn that being mean to others won’t solve their problems. Thankfully, for now, we have John and Crosley to clean up their messes!