Chuckwalla
Sauromalus obesus
Body length: 5 1/2 - 8"
Diet: Annual and perennial plants, and some insects
The chuckwalla is one of our largest southwestern lizards and one of the few vegetarian
lizards in Arizona. Chuckwallas live exclusively in rocky areas, and eat a variety
of plants, including brittlebush, globemallow,
and creosote. Often seen basking on large rocks, they flee into cracks when alarmed,
and wedge themselves inside by inflating their bodies.
Whether this species occurs at Tonto National Monument is not known, although
they have been found nearby at Roosevelt Dam. Spiny
lizards are similarly dark-colored, and large individuals may be mistaken
for chuckwallas. A good photograph with precise information, or a voucher specimen
(such as an individual killed on the road) is essential for confirming the presence
of chuckwallas in the Monument.
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May 8, 2005