San Esteban Island chuckwalla (Sauromalus varius)

Close up of a San Esteban Island chuckwalla
Close up of a San Esteban Island chuckwalla

San Esteban Island chuckwalla fact file

San Esteban Island chuckwalla description

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyIguanidae
GenusSauromalus (1)

This plump lizard can grow up to 60 centimetres, making it by far the largest of the chuckwallas (Sauromalus), and similar in size to its large iguana relatives (4) (5). This is a prime example of ‘insular gigantism’, the tendency of small mainland animals to increase in size once established on an island due to fewer natural predators (2) (4). The chuckwalla’s grainy, sand-coloured skin is splotched with shadowy grey blotches over the entire body, providing almost perfect camouflage against potential predators in its rocky habitat. Sadly, this lizard’s large size, rather small head, loose, gathered folds of skin, and long, thick, blunt tail means that it has sometimes been mistaken for the poisonous gila monster, and persecuted as such (6).

Also known as
giant chuckwalla, painted chuckwalla, Piebald chuckwalla.
Size
Length: up to 60 cm (2)
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San Esteban Island chuckwalla biology

This diurnal lizard emerges in the morning and basks in the sun to raise its body temperature before foraging for food (8). Chuckwallas are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of fruit, leaves, buds, succulent stems and flowers (8), with some species supplementing their diet with the occasional insect (7). When danger is sensed, chuckwallas display a unique defensive strategy of evading a potential predator. The threatened animal scurries into a rock crevice wherein it firmly lodges itself by inflating its lungs, thereby making removal by a predator almost impossible (5) (8).

Relatively little is known about the reproductive biology of the San Esteban Island chuckwalla. Chuckwallas generally lay a clutch of between 5 and 16 eggs in June to perhaps August, although some females may not lay eggs every year (7).

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San Esteban Island chuckwalla range

Found only on the small islands of San Esteban, Roca Lobos and Pelicanos in the Gulf of California (4).

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San Esteban Island chuckwalla habitat

Chuckwallas occupy open flats, rocky outcrops, dry canyons and washes, often being found near large rocks and boulders (7) (8).

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San Esteban Island chuckwalla status

This species is yet to be classified by the IUCN, but is listed on Appendix I of CITES (3).

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San Esteban Island chuckwalla threats

The precise threats to the San Esteban Island chuckwalla are unknown, although historically it has been widely captured for the burgeoning United States pet trade (6).

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San Esteban Island chuckwalla conservation

Chuckwallas have been maintained in captivity at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) since 1977 (9), where there have been ongoing studies of the species’ behaviour and reproductive biology within the large breeding colony held there (10). The San Esteban Island chuckwalla is listed on Appendix I of CITES, banning all international trade in the species (3).

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

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Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.ukTop

Glossary

Diurnal
Active during the day.
Herbivorous
Diet comprises only vegetable matter.
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References

  1. ITIS (September, 2008)
    http://www.itis.gov/
  2. Beacham, W., Castronova, F.V. and Sessine, S. (2000) Beacham’s Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. Vol. 1: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles. Gale, Unknown.
  3. CITES (January, 2007)
    http://www.cites.org
  4. Rigor Vitae: Life Unyielding: Vanishing Circles (January, 2007)
    http://rigorvitae.blogspot.com/2006/05/vanishing-circles.html
  5. Northern Arizona University: Caitilin McCracken’s Master's Thesis (January, 2007)
    http://www.nau.edu/~qsp/students_mccracken_thesis.htm
  6. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): Department of the Interior – News Release, 1979: Status Review of the San Esteban Island Chuckwalla (January, 2007)
    http://www.fws.gov/news/historic/1979/19790306c.pdf
  7. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) (January, 2007)
    http://www.desertmuseum.org/center/edu/docs/3-4_Reptiles_p21-27.pdf
  8. Phoenix Rock Gym (January, 2007)
    http://www.phoenixrockgym.com/PRG/chuckwalla.html
  9. Lee Rex McAliley, Ph.D. (January, 2007)
    http://www.webpages.ttu.edu/lmcalile/
  10. DesertUSA: The Ultimate Desert Resource (January, 2007)
    http://www.desertusa.com/sept96/du_chuckwalla.html

More »Related species

Spiny chuckwalla (Sauromalus hispidus)Galápagos pink land iguana (Conolophus marthae)Oaxacan spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura oaxacana)Guatemalan spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura palearis)Jamaican ground iguana (Cyclura collei)Hispaniolan ground iguana (Cyclura ricordii)Fiji crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis)Saint Lucia tree lizard (Anolis luciae)

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Image credit

Close up of a San Esteban Island chuckwalla  
Close up of a San Esteban Island chuckwalla

© Chris Mattison

Chris Mattison
138 Dalewood Road
Sheffield
S8 0EF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1142364433
Chris.Mattison@btinternet.com
http://www.chrismattison.co.uk

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