| Chuckwalla[1] Sauromalus | |
|---|---|
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| Common chuckwalla,S. ater (male) | |
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| Common chuckwalla,S. ater (female) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Iguanidae |
| Genus: | Sauromalus Dumeril, 1856 |
| Type species | |
| Sauromalus ater Dumeril, 1856 | |
| Species | |
Sauromalus ater (includingSauromalus obesus) | |
Chuckwallas arelizards found primarily in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Some are found on coastal islands. The five species of chuckwallas are all placed within thegenusSauromalus; they are part of the iguanidfamily,Iguanidae.
Thegeneric name,Sauromalus, is said to be a combination of twoancient Greek words:sauros meaning "lizard" andhomalos (ὁμαλός) meaning "flat".[2][3] The common name "chuckwalla" derives from theShoshone wordtcaxxwal orCahuillačaxwal, transcribed bySpaniards aschacahuala.[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sauromalus ater | common chuckwalla | eastern California, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada south to Baja California and Sonora. |
 | Sauromalus hispidus | Angel Island chuckwalla | Isla Ángel de la Guarda and 10 smaller islands in the Gulf of California |
 | Sauromalus klauberi | Santa Catalina chuckwalla / Spotted chuckwalla | Baja California |
| Sauromalus slevini | Monserrat chuckwalla | islands in the Sea of Cortés: Isla del Carmen, Isla Coronados, and Isla Monserrate | |
 | Sauromalus varius | San Esteban chuckwalla / piebald chuckwalla / pinto chuckwalla | endemic to San Esteban Island in the Gulf of California |
Chuckwallas are stocky, wide-bodied lizards with flattened midsections and prominent bellies. Their tails are thick, tapering to a blunt tip.[5] Loose folds of skin characterize the neck and sides of their bodies, which are covered in small, coarsely granular scales. Thecommon chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) measures15+3/4 inches long, whereas insular species such as theSan Esteban chuckwalla ofSan Esteban Island (Sauromalus varius) can measure as long as30 inches.
They aresexually dimorphic, with males having reddish-pink to orange, yellow, or light gray bodies and black heads, shoulders, and limbs; females and juveniles have bodies with scattered spots or contrasting bands of light and dark in shades of gray or yellow. Males are generally larger than females and possess well-developedfemoral pores located on the inner sides of their thighs; these pores produce secretions believed to play a role in markingterritory.[5]
The genusSauromalus has a wide distribution inbiomes of theSonoran andMojave Deserts.[5] The common chuckwalla (S. ater) is the species with the greatest range, found from southernCalifornia east to southernNevada andUtah and westernArizona, and south toBaja California and northwestern Mexico.[5] Thepeninsular chuckwalla (S. australis) is found on the eastern portion of the southern half of the Baja California Peninsula.[6]
The other species are island-dwelling, so have much more restricted distributions. TheAngel Island chuckwalla (S. hispidus) is found onIsla Ángel de la Guarda and surrounding islands off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula.[7] Two rare andendangered species are theMontserrat chuckwalla (S. slevini) found on Islas Carmen, Coronados, and Montserrat in the southernGulf of California and the San Esteban chuckwalla or painted chuckwalla (S. varius) found on San Esteban Island, Lobos, and Pelicanos.
Chuckwallas preferlava flows and rocky areas[5] typically vegetated bycreosote bush and other such drought-tolerant scrub. The lizards may be found at elevations up to 4,500 ft (1,370 m).[5]
Primarilyherbivorous, chuckwallas feed on leaves, fruit, and flowers ofannuals andperennial plants;insects represent a supplementary prey.[5] The lizards are said to prefer yellow flowers, such as those of thebrittlebush (Encelia farinosa).[5]
Harmless to humans, these lizards are known to run from potential threats.[5] When disturbed, a chuckwalla wedges itself into a tight rock crevice and inflates its lungs to entrench itself.[5][8]
Males are seasonally and conditionally territorial; an abundance of resources tends to create a hierarchy based on size, with one large male dominating the area's smaller males.[5] Chuckwallas use a combination of color and physical displays, namely "push-ups", head-hobbing, and gaping of the mouth, tocommunicate and defend their territory.[5]
Chuckwallas arediurnal animals and as they areectothermic, spend much of their mornings and winter daysbasking.[5] These lizards are well adapted to desert conditions; they are active at temperatures up to 39 °C (102 °F). Chuckwallashibernate during cooler months and emerge in February.[5] Juveniles emerge first, then adults, as temperatures reach around 32 °C (90 °F).[5]
Mating occurs from April to July, with five to 16 eggs laid between June and August. The eggs hatch in late September.[5] Chuckwallas may live for 25 years or more.
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TheSeri people considered the Angel Island species of chuckwalla an important food item.[9] They are believed to have translocated the lizards to most of the islands inBahia de los Angeles for use as a food source in times of need.[7]
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