Diet

• Primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, shoots, fruits, and buds from a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines.

• Juveniles occasionally consume insects and other small invertebrates, but adults are almost entirely plant-eaters.

• Plays an important role as a seed disperser, helping regenerate tropical forests.

Range

• Native to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and much of tropical South America.

• In Mexico, it occurs along both the Pacific and Gulf coasts, including Guerrero and the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a common native species.

• Has also been introduced to numerous tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Habitat

• Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, riparian woodlands, coastal scrub, and forest edges.

• Strongly associated with trees near rivers, estuaries, lagoons, and other bodies of water.

• Excellent climber and swimmer, spending much of its life in the canopy but readily diving into water to escape predators.

• Found from sea level to about 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

Size

• Total length: 1.2–2.0 m (4–6.5 ft), including the tail.

• Snout-to-vent length (SVL): 30–45 cm (12–18 in)

• Weight: 3–8 kg (6.6–17.6 lb), with exceptionally large males exceeding 9 kg (20 lb).