Sauromalus ater Duméril, 1856

Body Form

The common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater Duméril, 1856) is a large, flat-bodied lizard with a large rounded belly and a wide-based, blunt-tipped tail.

Size and Weight

It can reach a total length of 20 inches (51 cm) and a weight of 0.9 kg (2.0 lb).

Scale Structure

Small scales cover its entire body, while larger scales protect its ear openings.

Coloration Variation Factors

The lizard's coloration varies by geographic location, age, and sex.

Adult Male Coloration

In adult males, the head, shoulder, and pelvic regions are black, and the midbody is light tan speckled with brown.

Adult Female Coloration

Adult females are brownish with scattered dark red spots.

Juvenile Coloration

Young chuckwallas have four or five broad bands across their bodies and three or four bands on their tails.

Coloration Changes with Maturity

Males lose these bands as they reach adulthood, while females retain them to some degree.