Range

North America is the native home of the common chuckwalla. Here they can be found in Mexico and the United States. This species is found in the west of the United States and in north-western Mexico. They tend to live away from the coastline.

Some occur on islands in the gulf of California.

Habitat

This species lives in arid areas such as deserts along lava flows, rocky outcrops and hillsides. A small part of their range covers a subtropical thornforest.

Reproduction

Mating takes place starting in April. They will only breed in years with ample rainfall and good food availability. Males tend to breed every year with females breeding every second year.

Males compete fiercely during this period for access to females in their territory. These battles involve biting and head knocking.

They lay 5-16 eggs underground and these then incubate for 35 days. During the incubation period the female will guard the eggs and protect them.

Young are independent from birth with no parental care provided.

Sexual maturity is reached at between 2 and 3 years old.

Behavior

Common chuckwallas are active by day. As a reptile they are reliant on the sun to generate energy and when it is cold they may be inactive for weeks or even months at a time.

To obtain warmth they will bask in the sun. They can increase the surface area available to absorb this heat by folding out their loose skin folds.

Most of the time common chuckwallas are solitary with males aggressively defending their territory during breeding season. Due to the low number of available shelters in the desert they may be found sharing a shelter.

They perform a territorial display during which they push their body up and down. They will also bob their head.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the common chuckwalla include snakes, coyotes and hawks.

When threatened the common chuckwalla will run and hid under a rock or in a crevice. They inflate their lungs and this makes its hard for the predator to remove them from this spot.

They also have the ability to lose their tail to distract the predator.

In some areas habitat destruction is lowering their population. They are also affected through collection for the pet trade. This has a significant effect on populations with attractive patterning. Collectors also tend to cause additional habitat destruction.

Quick facts

Excess salt in their body is excreted through a gland in their nostrils and they may sneeze to help expel the salt.

Their scientific name was previously Sauromalus obesus.

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