Strange behavior of iota

[bachmeier via Digitalmars-d-learn]

This code

```
import std.conv, std.range, std.stdio;
void main() {
    auto v = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
    writeln(iota(v.length,-1,-1));
    writeln(iota(v.length,-1.to!long,-1));
    writeln(iota(v.length.to!int,-1,-1));
    writeln(iota(v.length.to!uint,-1,-1));
    writeln(iota(v.length.to!ulong,-1,-1));
}
```

outputs

```
[]
[]
[5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0]
[]
[]
```

Why does the first argument to iota have to be an int, and why 
isn't there an error message when I pass something else?