Animal Fact Sheet
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Desert Iguana
Dispsosaurus dorsalis
What does it look
like?
Desert iguanas are considered a medium-sized lizard with a blunt
head. The mature desert iguana is 10-16 inches long including their
tail, which is up to 1 ½ times the length of the body. The
dorsal side is brownish in color with tan/gray spots to the tail,
which is encircled with rows of dark spots. The ventral side is
pale in color. During breeding season, both sexes will have a pinkish
hue on their sides. They appear to have an external ear opening.
However, there is a thin covering of skin that vibrates when sound
occurs.
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| Where
in the world?
The desert iguana can be found in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts
of S.E. California, southern Nevada, S.W. Utah, S-central Arizona,
E. and S. Baja California, N.W. Mexico and some of the Gulf of California
islands. You can find them in sandy desert regions living amongst
the rock and creosote bush, which they use for shelter. They also
find refuge in the abandoned burrows of the kangaroo rat. In the
southern parts of its range, you can find it in arid subtropical
areas and deciduous forest.
What are some behaviors?
They can tolerate extreme heat better then some other desert lizards.
Have been observed active in temperatures up to 115 degrees. Often
spends time on large rocks or mounds of sand.
What about offspring?
Desert iguanas come out of hibernation mid-March and breeding occurs
in April/May. They will lay 2-10 eggs between May and June, which
hatch late July to August. With the right conditions they may possibly
have two clutches of eggs in one year.
The desert iguana has been recorded living 17
years. |
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What does it eat?
Is considered a vegetarian and eats the flowers of the creosote
bush, but will also eat various insects.
Is it threatened
or endangered?
There are no conservation plans for the desert iguana. The only
area they may have problem is where habitat has been destroyed or
damaged. |
