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Desert Iguana
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- Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
- Suborder: Lacertilia (=Sauria) (lizards)
- Family: Iguanidae (iguanid lizards)
- Subfamily: Iguaninae (iguana-like lizards)
- Genus: Dipsosaurus (desert iguanas)
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Scientific Name: Dipsosaurus
dorsalis dorsalis (Baird & Girard, 1852) |
| Habitat: Sandy flats
with scattered rocks and creosote bush. |
Dipsos="thirst," saurus="lizard,"
dorsalis="of the side"
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| Length: Up to 16 inches
total. |
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| Food: Primarily
herbivorous but will occasionally eat insects. |
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This iguana was found in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, on
07 April 2000 around 0915 PDT. I think it's a female. It has a
regenerated tail (the original would have the pattern visible on
the body, and would be much longer) from a previous encounter with
a predator, and was fairly emaciated, having recently came out of
hibernation.
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| Desert iguanas are among the
largest North American lizards. I have seen many of them crossing
the roads at Eldorado Canyon in the Lake
Mead National Recreation Area, where they appear almost white
against the asphalt roads. One individual crossed the road in
front of our car on 02 April 2000 around noon PDT and took refuge
under a small bush. It fled rapidly when we got within about 3
feet of it. The specimen shown above was more approachable since
it was found in the morning, before it had the chance to warm to
its optimal temperature. |
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