If you've never heard of the whiptail lizard, hermit crab, paper wasp or the green iguana, there's no need to despair. Spend any amount of time on the island and these little animals will seem like house pets. The green iguana, for example, is the most impressive animal on Curacao. Its meat is still relished in soups and although we hate to admit it, it's become one of our favourite snacks! The paper wasp, on the other hand, is much smaller and most people like to keep them at a safe distance. Whiptail lizards are nearly as plentiful as cactuses, but the hermit crab is a marine animal that has conquered the land. Although they look fairly innocent, they actually gang up on other crabs and violently yank them from their shells. The gang members queue up largest to smallest to see which crab can best fit into the stolen shell. Some people keep these little ruffians as pets and even paint their shells.