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Common Chuckwalla

Sauromalus ater

The Common Chuckwalla is a friendly lizard that loves to bask in the sun. It has a chunky body and can change color to blend in with rocks and sand, making it a great little explorer of the desert!

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Common Chuckwalla is a large, stout lizard with a broad, flattened body and loose skin folds. Adult males typically have a black head, chest, and limbs, with a reddish-brown body and tail, while females are lighter with banded patterns.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderLacertiliaFamilyIguanidaeGenusSauromalus
Common Chuckwalla
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Common Chuckwalla

Category

Reptiles

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Chuckwallas change color slightly with their body temperature, like a mood ring!

Male chuckwallas perform head-bobbing displays to attract mates or warn rivals!

Their name, 'chuckwalla,' comes from the Native American Cahuilla language!

They can sometimes live for over 25 years in the harsh desert environment!

Special abilities

Ability

Inflating Defense

Common Chuckwalla can puff up its body with air because that helps it wedge tightly into rock crevices, making it almost impossible for predators to dislodge.

Ability

Salt Excretion

Common Chuckwalla has special nasal salt glands that help it remove excess salt from its diet, allowing it to get water from plants in the desert.

Ability

Sun-Powered Energy

Common Chuckwalla has a dark body coloration that helps it absorb sunlight quickly to warm up, crucial for energy in cool desert mornings.

Measurements & details

Length
25-45 cm
Weight
0.5-1.5 kg
Lifespan
15-25 years
Top Speed
15 km/h
Clutch Size
5-16
Incubation
75-80 days

Diet & Feeding

These desert lizards love to munch on desert plants like leaves, flowers, and fruits for food and water.

Primary Foods

  • Brittlebush leaves
  • Desert mallow flowers
  • Creosote bush
  • Cactus fruit

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild lizards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Common Chuckwalla?

25-45 cm

How much does Common Chuckwalla weigh?

0.5-1.5 kg

How long does Common Chuckwalla live?

15-25 years

How fast can Common Chuckwalla move?

15 km/h

What does Common Chuckwalla eat?

These desert lizards love to munch on desert plants like leaves, flowers, and fruits for food and water.

Where is Common Chuckwalla usually found?

Desert

How does Common Chuckwalla hunt?

Foraging

How many eggs does Common Chuckwalla lay?

5-16

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