Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Baird & Girard, 1852)

Species Classification

The desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, is a medium-sized lizard.

Size

Its average total length is 41 cm (16 in), and it can reach a maximum total length of 61 cm (24 in) when including the tail.

Base Coloration

Its base color ranges from pale gray-tan to cream, with a light brown reticulated pattern across its back and sides.

Dorsal Scale Morphology

A row of slightly enlarged, keeled dorsal scales runs down the center of the back, growing slightly larger toward the lower back.

Body and Tail Pattern

Near the back legs, the reticulated pattern transitions to brown spots, which become stripes along the tail.

Tail Length Proportion

The tail is typically around one and a half times longer than the body measured from snout to vent.

Belly and Breeding Coloration

The belly is pale, and during the breeding season, both sexes develop pinkish coloring on their sides.

Core Habitat Type

This lizard's preferred habitat falls largely within the range of the creosote bush, mostly in dry, sandy desert scrubland below 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

North American Distribution

It has a substantial population in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, and can also be found in rocky streambeds up to 1,000 m.

Southern Range Habitat

In the southern part of its range, it lives in arid subtropical scrub and tropical deciduous forest.

High Temperature Tolerance

Desert iguanas tolerate high temperatures, and remain active after other lizards have retreated to their burrows.

Thermoregulation Behavior

They seek shade when their body temperature reaches the low forties Celsius, and retreat to the protection of a burrow when their body temperature hits the mid forties Celsius.

Anti-Predator Burrowing Behavior

They burrow extensively, and if threatened will scamper into a shrub and quickly enter a burrow.

Burrow Characteristics

Their burrows are usually dug in sand under bushes such as creosote, and they also often reuse burrows dug by kit foxes and desert tortoises.

Reproductive Habitat Requirements

Reproduction influences their habitat selection: it is thought that high-temperature environments support more successful egg hatching, and eggs typically hatch when environmental temperatures range between 28 and 38 degrees Celsius.

Mating Period

Mating occurs around May to June.

Clutch Production

Desert iguanas produce only one clutch of eggs per year, with each clutch holding 3 to 8 eggs.

Hatchling Emergence

Hatchlings emerge around September.

Primary Diet

They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on the buds, flowers, fruits, and leaves of many annual and perennial plants.

Preferred Plant Food Sources

They are especially attracted to the flowers and leaves of the creosote bush and alfalfa.

Supplementary Food Sources

They also eat insects, particularly ants, crickets, and mealworms, as well as the feces of other herbivores.

Predators

Predators of adult desert iguanas and their eggs include birds of prey, foxes, rats, long-tailed weasels, and snakes.