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Iguanas are large, herbivorous lizards originally native to Central and South America, which proliferated across North America in the wake of the Great War. They are a staple of the Fallout series, found in almost every game as a meal, and included in The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook.[Non-game 1]

Background[]

Found across the wasteland from New California[1] and the Mojave Wasteland[2] to Appalachia,[3] the Capital Wasteland,[4] and the Commonwealth,[5] iguanas are a common source of meat to wastelanders, and are even kept as pets.[6] Iguanas have a common defense mechanism, shedding their tail as a distraction,[7] but it does not stop larger predators who prey on the common lizard.[8]

It is unknown just how the lizard became so commonplace,[9] but they are so ubiquitous that they can form the basis of nutrition for impoverished groups.[10] However, it is popular with all classes of society,[11] as iguana meat is readily available. Though stringy,[Non-game 1] it can be prepared in a variety of ways: Simple iguana bits can be served as skewers with vegetables,[12][13] as a sandwich,[14] or even as iguana soup.[15] It can also be roasted whole in its skin, becoming an iguana-on-a-stick,[16] and even oven baked.[17] Talented cooks can turn it into other dishes, such as savory iguana sausages, served to the New Vegas Strip visitors at Vault 21.[18] Iguana meat seems to go well with mustard and onions.[19]

Talented cooks can count on steady income, as good iguana meals tend to be very popular. Perhaps the most popular of these cooks was Iguana Bob Frazier of the Hub around 2161, who became a staple of the Merchant Market, offering freshly roasted iguana[20] and "prime cut" iguana bits. The latter were especially popular in the Hub,[21][22][23] though they were not made from actual iguanas, but human meat sourced from Doc Morbid of Junktown.[24] The secret never got out, and the Fraziers continued their business, with Bob's sharply-dressed[25] son operating the Son of Bob's Iguana Bits franchise at the NCR capital in 2241.[26] On the other side of the continent, Gary Staley of Rivet City around 2277 specialized in mirelurk cakes, but his iguana was very popular, either whole or served as bits.[27] Margaret Primrose was also good with iguana, and served Allistair Tenpenny his favorite iguana sandwich every day.[14]

Characteristics[]

For such a commonplace creature, the iguanas are yet to appear in living form in the game. Deathclaws, such as Valdis, can be insulted by comparing them to iguanas, but they are not derived from the lizard.[28]

Aside from the odd mention, iguanas appear primarily as various meals throughout the Capital and Mojave Wastelands, New California, Appalachia as well as the Commonwealth. The aforementioned Iguana Bob in Fallout is notable for being involved in a cannibal scheme, where actual roasted iguanas are served alongside skewers made from human bits.

Appearances[]

Iguanas appear in Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Fallout Tactics.

Behind the scenes[]

  • In Fallout and Fallout 2, the combat float "I'm gonna feed you to my pet iguana" suggests that knowledge of iguanas being herbivorous is not that common. While iguanas will eat meat if given the chance, they cannot digest it properly.
  • The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook uses duck meat in place of iguana meat, which is described as stringy.[Non-game 1]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Iguana-on-a-stick (Fallout)
  2. Iguana-on-a-stick (Fallout: New Vegas)
  3. Iguana on a stick (Fallout 76)
  4. Iguana-on-a-stick (Fallout 3)
  5. Iguana on a stick (Fallout 4)
  6. COMBATAI.MSG: "{2550}{}{I'm gonna feed you to my pet iguana}"
    Note: Used in Fallout and Fallout 2 as a generic combat float.
  7. Pioneer Scout Badge Exam answers:
    Question: "Your pet iguana is being threatened by the family dog. What would be a common defense mechanism employed by the iguana?"
    Correct answer: "Shed its own tail as a distraction"
  8. The Vault Dweller: "{122}{}{Who's Victor?}"
    Sherry: "{125}{}{Victor's right over there. He's the meanest of us all. He likes torturing iguanas that he catches. I don't really like him, to tell the truth, but he's one of us.}"
    (Sherry's dialogue)
  9. Underworld resident: "Greta, can I get some food over here?"
    Greta: "What do you want?"
    Underworld resident: "You ever wonder where all those iguanas come from? I do. I guess it don't matter, 'cause they sure are tasty. You got any?"
    Greta: "I can go find out for you."
    Underworld resident: "I'll try not to starve before you get back."
    (Underworld conversations; Underworld resistdent and Greta's dialogue)
  10. Caleb Smith: "Can we have something other than iguana tonight? Anything?"
    (Caleb Smith's dialogue)
  11. Fallout endings: "Junktown becomes the new boomtown under the careful, and profitable, guidance of Don Gizmo. He profits the most, and continues to increase the size of his casino, and the scope of his power, until he chokes to death while eating some Iguana-on-a-stick."
  12. PRO ITEM.MSG: "{10300}{}{Iguana-on-a-stick}"
    "{10301}{}{Some charred meat and vegetables on a cooking stick.}"
    Note: Present in both Fallout and Fallout 2.
  13. Zimmer: "Did I order already? If I didn't, I'd like Iguana Bits with vegetables."
    Mister Buckingham: "Your food will be ready shortly, Mister Zimmer."
    (Rivet City conversations; Zimmer and Mister Buckingham's dialogue)
  14. 14.0 14.1 The Lone Wanderer: "Tell me about Allistair Tenpenny."
    Margaret Primrose: "Every day it's the same thing. The man has no imagination with his meals. But it's his building, so everyday I make that damned 'Iguana Bits sandwich, no salt, with a peeled pear on the side. Send it up to the penthouse.'"
    (Margaret Primrose's dialogue)
  15. Iguana soup (Fallout 4) and Iguana soup (Fallout 76)
  16. PRO ITEM.MSG: "{8100}{}{Iguana-on-a-stick}"
    "{8101}{}{A cooked iguana, roasted in it's own skin.}"
    Note: Present in both Fallout and Fallout 2.
  17. Gary Staley: "Make sure to clean all the empty tables."
    Angela Staley: "Okay. Don't forget to check the oven. Nobody will eat a burnt iguana."
    (Rivet City conversations; Gary Staley and Angela Staley's dialogue)
  18. Vault 21 terminal entries; Vault 21 guest terminal, Diner Menu
  19. Mikey Frazier: "{110}{}{There's mustard and onions over there.}"
    (Mikey Frazier's dialogue)
  20. PRO SCEN.MSG (Fallout): "{16500}{}{Iguana Stand}"
    "{16501}{}{The home of Bob's Iguana Bits. What's not to love about fresh-roasted iguana?}"
  21. The Vault Dweller: "{1056}{}{Iguana}"
    Butch Harris: "{1133}{butch108}{Now there's some good eating. Bob's has got the best charred iguana this side of the desert.}"
    (Butch Harris' dialogue)
  22. Far Go Traders guard: "{106}{}{Hmm, I've a craving for some iguana on a stick.}"
    (Far Go Traders guards' dialogue)
  23. Luke and Mat: "{119}{}{I'm heading strait for Bobs!}"
    (Luke and Mat's dialogue)
  24. Blackmail Iguana Bob
  25. Mikey Frazier's character description: "{100}{}{You see a sharp-dressed guy hawking lizard kebabs.}"
    (Mikey Frazier's dialogue)
  26. Mikey Frazier's character description: "{102}{}{For a lizard-on-a-stick vendor, this guy's got style. He's clean, well-dressed and runs a pretty spotless little operation.}"
    (Mikey Frazier's dialogue)
  27. Gary Staley: "Let me introduce myself. I am Gary Staley gourmet chef and gourmand. I'll be preparing your meal. My specialty is Mirelurk Cakes. Although the iguana is very popular too."
    (Gary Staley's dialogue)
  28. The Chosen One: "{110}{}{No offense to your fellow deathclaws, but you sound more... educated, shall we say?}"
    Valdis: "{131}{}{Yes. We are quite diverse in our levels of education. I am doing my best to continue mine in my spare time.}"
    The Chosen One: "{132}{}{An iguana with a goal. How freaking cute.}"
    (Valdis' dialogue)

Non-game

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