Chuckwallas
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Squamata Suborder: Sauria Family: Iguanidae Genus: Sauromalus Dumeril, 1856
Species
Sauromalus ater Sauromalus australis Sauromalus hispidus Sauromalus obesus Sauromalus slevini Sauromalus varius Download high resolution version (398x672, 69 KB)Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater). ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... Digimon, the only known animals. ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... Subgroups Lepidosauromorpha Archosauromorpha Sauria is a clade of reptiles that includes all living diapsids, as well as their common ancestor and all its extinct descendants. ... Genera Amblyrhynchus Brachylophus Conolophus Ctenosaura Cyclura Dipsosaurus Iguana Sauromalus Frost et al. ... Binomial name Sauromalus ater (Dumeril, 1856) Sauromalus ater is the Common Chuckwalla. ... Binomial name Sauromalus ater (Dumeril, 1856) Sauromalus ater is the Common Chuckwalla. ...

Chuckwallas (less commonly Chuckawallas) are large lizards found primarily in arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Some are found on coastal islands. There are five species of Chuckwalla, all within the genus Sauromalus; they are part of the iguana family, Iguanidae. For other uses, see Lizard (disambiguation). ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species Lesser Antillean Iguana, Green Iguana, Although iguana can refer to other members of the lizard family Iguanidae, this article concerns members of the genus Iguana. ... In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ... Genera Amblyrhynchus Brachylophus Conolophus Ctenosaura Cyclura Dipsosaurus Iguana Sauromalus Frost et al. ...

The name Chuckwalla derives from the Shoshone word "tcaxxwal" or Cahuilla "caxwal", transcribed by Spaniards as "chacahuala". Shoshone around their tipi, probably taken around 1890 Shoshone Indians at Ft. ... The Cahuilla are a group of Native Americans that have inhabited California for more than 2000 years, originally covering an area of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²). Evidence shows that when the Cahuilla first moved into the area a large body of water now called Lake Cahuilla...

Physical description

Reaching a total length of 16 inches (40 centimetres) and a weight of 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms), Chuckwallas are noted for their wide, flattened midsections and prominent paunch. Their tails are also notably thick, tapering to a blunt tip. Loose folds of skin characterise the neck and sides of the body, which is covered in small, coarsely granular scales. Males are generally larger than females.

Sexual dimorphism is marked, with males having reddish to orange, yellow or light gray bodies and black heads, shoulders and limbs; females and the immature have bodies with scattered spots or contrasting bands of light and dark in shades of gray or yellow. Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in both color and size between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ...

Well-developed femoral pores are located on the inner side of the thighs in males; these pores produce secretions believed to play a role in marking territory. A pore, in general, is some form of opening, usually very small. ... In ethology, sociobiology and behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any geographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics (and, occasionally, animals of other species). ...

Range, habitat and diet

The genus Sauromalus has a wide distribution in desert biomes. This is especially true of the Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater), found from southern California east to southern Nevada and Utah, western Arizona and south to Baja California and northwestern Mexico. Other species are island-dwelling and therefore have much more restricted distributions: Two rare and endangered are the Chuckwalla de Montserrat (Sauromalus slevini) found on Islas Carmen, Coronados and Montserrat and the San Esteban Chuckwalla or Painted Chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius) found on San Esteban, Lobos and Pelicanos. The Angel Island Chuckwalla (Sauromalus hispidus) and Peninsular Chuckwalla (Sauromalus australis) are found on Isla Ángel de la Guarda and surrounding islands off the coast of the Baja California peninsula. This article is about arid terrain. ... In ecology, a biome is a major regional group of distinctive plant and animal communities best adapted to the regions physical natural environment, latitude, elevation, and terrain. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Salt Lake City Largest city Salt Lake City Area  Ranked 13th  - Total 84,876 sq mi (219,887 km²)  - Width 270 miles (435 km)  - Length 350 miles (565 km)  - % water 3. ... Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area  Ranked 6th  - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... Baja California (literally lower California in Spanish) is the northernmost state of Mexico. ... The critically endangered Siberian Tiger, a rare subspecies of tiger. ... San Esteban (the Spanish-language name of Saint Stephen) may refer to: Philippines San Esteban, Ilocos Sur Mexico San Esteban, Chihuahua San Esteban, Coahuila San Esteban, Tamaulipas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Lobos is a city in the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, founded on June 2, 1802 by José Salgado. ... Isla Ángel de la Guarda () is a large island in the Gulf of California east of Bahía de los Ángeles. ... Baja California Peninsula (highlighted) The Baja California Peninsula or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. ...

Chuckwallas prefer lava flows and rocky areas, such as those found in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. These areas are typically vegetated by creosote bush and other such drought-tolerant scrub. The lizards may be found at elevations of up to 4,500 feet (1,370 metres). In computer programming jargon, lava flow is a problem in which computer code, usually written under less than optimal conditions, is put into production and then built on when still in a developmental state. ... Sonoran Desert wildlife Mountains in the Sonoran Desert 3D photograph of Saguaro National Park at dusk. ... Looking across from Emigrant Pass towards the Kingston Range in the eastern Mojave. ... Binomial name Larrea tridentata (Sessé & Moc. ...

Western chuckwalla Sauromalus ater

Primarily herbivorous, Chuckwallas feed on leaves, fruit and flowers of annuals and perennial plants; insects represent a supplementary prey. The lizards are said to prefer yellow flowers, such as those of the brittlebush (Encelia farinosa). Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 446 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1114 × 1498 pixel, file size: 651 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Western chuckwallah Sauromalus ater at Bristol Zoo, Bristol, England. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 446 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1114 × 1498 pixel, file size: 651 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Western chuckwallah Sauromalus ater at Bristol Zoo, Bristol, England. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 764 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Chuckwalla - Museum of Natural History - Picture taken by deror avi on 24th September 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (2288 × 1712 pixel, file size: 764 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Chuckwalla - Museum of Natural History - Picture taken by deror avi on 24th September 2006. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... Peas are an annual plant. ... Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ... Orders See taxonomy Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species—more than all other animal groups combined. ... Binomial name Encelia farinosa Torr. ...

Behavior and reproduction

Harmless to humans, these lizards are known to run from potential threats; a tight rock crevice is sought wherein the Chuckwalla will inflate its body with air in order to entrench itself.

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. Chuckwallas use a combination of colour and physical displays, namely "push ups", head-hobbing, and gaping of the mouth to communicate and defend their territory (see animal communication). In lean periods no territories are observed. Animal communication is any behaviour on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. ...

Chuckwallas are diurnal animals and as they are exothermic, spend much of their mornings and winter days basking. These lizards are well adapted to desert conditions; they are active at temperatures of up to 102°F (39°C). Chuckwallas hibernate during cooler months and emerge in February. A diurnal animal (dÄ«-Å­rnÉ™l) is an animal that is active during the daytime and sleeps during the night. ... In thermodynamics, the word exothermic describes a process or reaction that releases energy in the form of heat. ... This article is about the process of hibernation in biology. ...

Mating occurs from April to July, with 5-16 eggs laid between June and August. The eggs hatch in late September. Chuckwallas may live for 25 years or more.

External link

• ARKive - images and movies of the San Esteban Island chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius)