Chuckwalla

The generic name, Sauromalus, is said to be a combination of two ancient Greek words: meaning "lizard" and () meaning "flat". The common name "chuckwalla" derives from the Shoshone word or Cahuilla , transcribed by Spaniards as chacahuala. Extant species == Description ==

Chuckwallas are stocky, wide-bodied lizards with flattened midsections and prominent bellies. Their tails are thick, tapering to a blunt tip. Loose folds of skin characterize the neck and sides of their bodies, which are covered in small, coarsely granular scales. The common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) measures long, whereas insular species such as the San Esteban chuckwalla of San Esteban Island (Sauromalus varius) can measure as long as They are sexually dimorphic, with males having reddish-pink to orange, yellow, or light gray bodies and black heads, shoulders, and limbs; females and juveniles have bodies with scattered spots or contrasting bands of light and dark in shades of gray or yellow. Males are generally larger than females and possess well-developed femoral pores located on the inner sides of their thighs; these pores produce secretions believed to play a role in marking territory. == Range, habitat, and diet ==

The genus Sauromalus has a wide distribution in biomes of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. The other species are island-dwelling, so have much more restricted distributions. The Angel Island chuckwalla (S. hispidus) is found on Isla Ángel de la Guarda and surrounding islands off the coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Two rare and endangered species are the Montserrat chuckwalla (S. slevini) found on Islas Carmen, Coronados, and Montserrat in the southern Gulf of California and the San Esteban chuckwalla or painted chuckwalla (S. varius) found on San Esteban Island, Lobos, and Pelicanos. Chuckwallas prefer lava flows and rocky areas Primarily herbivorous, chuckwallas feed on leaves, fruit, and flowers of annuals and perennial plants; insects represent a supplementary prey. == Behavior and reproduction==

Harmless to humans, these lizards are known to run from potential threats. Males are seasonally and conditionally territorial; an abundance of resources tends to create a hierarchy based on size, with one large male dominating the area's smaller males. These lizards are well adapted to desert conditions; they are active at temperatures up to . Chuckwallas hibernate during cooler months and emerge in February. Juveniles emerge first, then adults, as temperatures reach around . Mating occurs from April to July, with five to 16 eggs laid between June and August. The eggs hatch in late September. Chuckwallas may live for 25 years or more. File:Male Chuckwalla.JPG|Large male chuckwalla, picture taken in the White Tank Mountains near Surprise, Arizona File:Chuckwalla.jpg|Adult chuckwalla of the Sonoran Desert File:Juvenile Chuckwalla.jpg|Juvenile chuckwalla of the Sonoran Desert File:Chuckwalla(landers ca).jpg|Adult chuckwalla of the Mojave Desert File:Basking Chuckwalla.jpg|Large male common chuckwalla in Joshua Tree National Park File:Chuckwalla Sneezing.jpg|A chuckwalla sneezing salt in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park File:Chuckwalla baby.jpg|Baby Chuckwalla, Titus Canyon, Death Valley National Park File:Adult male Sonoran Desert chuckwalla. The photo was taken in May in Paradise Valley, Arizona. 1.jpg|Adult male Sonoran Desert chuckwalla. The photo was taken in May in Paradise Valley, Arizona. ==Human use==

The Seri people considered the Angel Island species of chuckwalla an important food item. They are believed to have translocated the lizards to most of the islands in Bahia de los Angeles for use as a food source in times of need.. Known to have tender meat, sometimes likened to frog legs, they would also trade it with nearby Tribes that did not have access to the creatures. They were typically hunted with sharp bone and later wire hooks used to puncture the air sacs, allowing the chuckwalla to be removed from the rocks it would wedge itself between. ==References==