00:02Animals communicate with each other in complex and unique ways.
00:06By using gestures, sounds and movements that are not always easy to spot or translate when you're a human.
00:13But to each other, these verbal and non-verbal cues are how these animals communicate a range of feelings.
00:19From happiness and excitement to anger or fear.
00:23Today we're entering the world of reptilian communication at San Diego Zoo's Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Centre to
00:31uncover the secret language of the iguana.
00:35Iguanas don't bark or purr or squawk. Their communication methods are a little less vocal and a little more movement
00:44orientated.
00:45This is a head bob.
00:46To anyone who is seeing this behaviour for the first time, he may just appear to be a very agreeable
00:52iguana.
00:53But decoding the intricacies of this head movement is a skill that conservation specialist Jeff Lem has perfected.
01:00They bob their heads up and down and that's how they're talking to us.
01:03And different head bobs mean different things.
01:06So a lot of times if they do like a really big head bob, sometimes with their mouth open, that's
01:10a territorial display.
01:11That male was telling me, don't come in my enclosure, this is my home, I don't want you in here.
01:16And according to Jeff, different speeds of head bobs mean different things.
01:21When they really like a female, they do a quick little vibrating head bob.
01:25But they also speak through smell and scent.
01:28So it's very important for them to be able to smell their other iguanas and know if, you know, a
01:33female is ready for breeding,
01:35if there's another male in their territory.
01:37So it's a very sophisticated way of communicating.
01:43By working with these incredible animals every day, Jeff has picked up the cues and translated the clues of iguana
01:49communication.
01:50A gift that many animal keepers have developed to ensure that they can understand the animals they work with.
01:56And care for them the best they can.
