The desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) is one of the most common lizards of the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They also occur on several Gulf of California islands. It has a long tail and relatively round body. The desert iguana is light-colored: it ranges from a light-brown around its head to a grayish-white along the rest of its body. It also has patterns of darker brown stripes along its side and spots on its long tail. The head of the desert iguana is short and the scales along its back are slightly larger than in other areas.
Ten Facts about Desert Iguana
- An adult desert iguana is large for a lizard, measuring head-to-tail 25-40 cm (10-16 in). The tail makes up 3/4 of the iguana's length.
- Active in daylight, desert iguanas change color to regulate body temperature.
- They are darkest in the morning to absorb more heat from the sun, and they will turn nearly pure white by early afternoon to reflect sunlight.
- These lizards can stand hotter temperatures than most, remaining active in up to 46º C (115º F).
- There lifespan is about 8 to 10 years.
- Diet consist Omnivore. The yellow flowers of the creosote bush, occasionally insects.
- Their predators includes snakes, avian predators, coyotes, and foxes.
- Mating takes place in the early spring.
- It is believed that only one clutch of eggs is laid each year, with each clutch having 3-8 eggs.
- The hatchlings emerge around September.
