Chuckwallas also called Chuckawallas are large lizards in the family Iguanidae. The Shoshone called them "tcaxxwal." The Chahuilla Indians that live in southeeastern California called them "caxwal." The Spanish first wrote the name as chacahaula. Chuckwallas live in the deserts of western Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, Sonora and Baja California. They are usually found in areas that have large rocks, boulders, or lava flows. There they can be seen sunning themselves on flat boulders. They also hide in gaps and crevices of rocks and boulders. Chuckwallas are large lizards second in size to Gila Monsters.
Ten Facts about Chuckwalla
- The chuckwalla is a herbivore, feeding on wildflowers, fruits and leaves of creosote.
- This species requires rocky cover such as large rock outcrops, boulder piles or scattered large rocks, usually on a slope but often on a flat.
- This species lays eggs, and friable, sandy, well-drained soil is required for nesting. In years of less than average rainfall and low plant productivity, reproduction may not occur.
- This species can be active all year in warm areas, but most activity occurs in spring and early summer (late March to July).
- Home ranges of males averaged 1.9 ha (4.8 ac) and ranged from 1-3.3 ha (2.5-8.3 ac); female ranges were smaller.
- Breeding occurs from April to June with a peak of activity in late April to May. Clutch size ranges from 6-13, average 8 eggs. Females may produce one clutch in 2 or 3 years.
- The common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) measures 40 cm in length, insular species such as the giant chuckwalla can measure as much as 76 cm in total length.
- When disturbed, a chuckwalla will wedge itself into a tight rock crevice, gulp air, and inflate its body in order to entrench itself.
- Chuckwallas may live for 25 years or more.
- These lizards are well adapted to desert conditions; they are active at temperatures of up to 102 °F.
