A rhino iguana residing at Australia Zoo in Queensland, Australia, has reached the remarkable age of 40 years 278 days (as of 27 November 2020), making him the oldest living rhino iguana in captivity!
The rhino iguana, named Rhino (makes sense, right?) was born at Taronga Zoo in Sydney before being transferred to Australia Zoo on 23 November 1993.
Rhino iguanas like hot climates and are native to the Caribbean.
Their name comes from their "horn" (which in fact is a scaly outgrowth) found on their snouts that looks like a rhino's horn.
This "horn" is more prominent in males.
It is not known exactly what the "horn" is for, but may it be for attracting mates, or fighting between males.
The average lifespan for the rhino iguana in captivity is around 16 or 17 years, though some researchers believe that in the wild it could be possible for them to live to 75-80 years old!
Rhino joins a fellow record-breaking animal that can be found at Australia Zoo - Forest, the tallest giraffe.
Forest, a 12-year-old male, stands at a towering 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in).
It's not just the animals at Australia Zoo that hold records, though - Bindi Irwin, Steve Irwin's daughter, is the most followed TV naturalist/conservationist on Instagram with 4,134,440 followers (correct as of 24 November 2020).
She took her record back from David Attenborough, as his account is no longer active following his last post on 31 October 2020.
Image credit: Australia Zoo
