The Desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. One part of its scientific name comes from Greek and can be roughly translated as "thirsty lizard", while the other part comes from Latin and means "spike", in reference to a row of enlarged spiked scales on the middle of the lizard's back which form a crest that extends almost to the tip of its vent.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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FolivoreIn zoology, a folivore is a herbivore that specializes in eating leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose, less ...
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FrugivoreA frugivore is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts, and seeds. Approx...
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CoprophageCoprophage animals are those that consume feces. Domesticated and wild mammals are sometimes coprophagic, and in some species, this forms an essent...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Desert DwellersThe Desert iguana is pale gray-tan to cream in color with a light brown reticulated pattern on its back and sides. Down the center of the back is a row of slightly-enlarged, keeled dorsal scales that become slightly larger as you move down the back. The reticulated pattern gives way to brown spots near the back legs, turning into stripes along the tail. The belly is pale. During the breeding season, the sides become pinkish in both sexes.
Desert iguanas are found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They also occur on several Gulf of California islands. Their preferred habitat is largely contained within the range of the creosote bush, mainly dry, sandy desert scrubland and they can also be found in rocky streambeds. In the southern portion of their range, these lizards live in areas of arid subtropical scrub and tropical deciduous forest.
Desert iguanas are solitary creatures that are most active during hot midday hours. These lizards can withstand high temperatures and are out and about after other lizards have hidden into their burrows. Desert iguanas burrow extensively and if threatened will scamper into a shrub and go quickly down a burrow. Their burrows are usually dug in the sand under bushes like the creosote. They also often use burrows of other animals such as kit foxes and desert tortoises. Although Desert iguanas are primarily terrestrial they are very skillful climbers and often climb into the branches of bushes in order to reach the yellow flowers of the creosote bush, their favorite food. During cold months these lizards retreat into their burrows for winter hibernation.
Desert iguanas are primarily herbivorous (folivores, frugivores). They eat buds, fruits, and leaves of many plants and will occasionally consume insects and carrion.
Desert iguanas are polygynous meaning that one male mates with more than one female. Breeding takes place in the early spring. It is believed that only one clutch of eggs is laid each year, with each clutch having 3-8 eggs. The hatchlings usually emerge around September; they are fully developed at birth and are able to fend for themselves. They will reach reproductive maturity and start to breed at 31-33 months of age.
Desert iguanas don't face any major threats present, however, locally some populations suffer from habitat destruction, mortality on highways, and climate changes.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of Desert iguanas probably exceeds 100,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.