What do chuckwallas do?
Ecosystem Role: Chuckwalla represent an important prey species for many desert dwelling species, including raptors, medium to large carnivores and snakes. Due to their herbivorous, foraging behavior, they also help regulate plant diversity in their habitat.
Do chuckwallas swim?
Tegus are not tree dwellers. They spend most of their life on ground, but they are excellent swimmers.
What habitat do chuckwallas live in?
Habitat: The San Esteban chuckwalla is found in arid, desert conditions, especially in areas characterized by boulder-strewn slopes and lava flows, creviced canyon walls and dry arroyos.
What do common chuckwallas eat?
Common chuckwallas are herbivores, eating leaves and fruit and occasional insects found on the plants they eat. They eat leaves and the fruit of creosote bushes, browneyes, and desert ragweed. In captivity they are fed various greens, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. They obtain water from the plants they eat.
Are chuckwallas protected?
Since it inhabits remote and inhospitable places, chuckwalla is protected from negative human activity (including over-collecting from the wild due to pet trade). Population of chuckwalla is large and stable in the wild. Chuckwalla is not on the list of endangered species.
What animals eat chuckwallas?
Predators of chuckwallas include rattlesnakes, coyotes, kestrels and red-tailed hawks. When threatened, a chuckwalla will hide in its burrow, inflate its lungs and expand its skin, effectively wedging itself into place. Chuckwallas are solitary with the exception of breeding season.
How many eggs do chuckwallas lay?
Western chuckwallas mate in the spring. About two months later, females lay their eggs underground — between five and 16 eggs at a time. The eggs hatch in the fall….Western Chuckwalla.
| Geographical Range | Southwestern United States |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sauromalus obesus obesus |
| Conservation Status | Not listed by IUCN |
Are chuckwallas aggressive?
The Chuckwalla, which can reach a length of about 18″, is the second largest lizard behind the Gila Monster. But unlike the Gila, the Chuckwalla is not venomous and not dangerous to humans. It is very docile and runs to nearby rock piles when it feels threatened.
Are chuckwallas good pets?
Chuckwallas are not common pets, but captive-bred individuals generally make good pets when cared for properly. Based on their size, equipment needs, and lifespan, these lizards can be considered intermediate-level pet reptiles. With good care, your chuckwalla may live up to 65 years!
Do coyotes eat chuckwallas?
Predators of chuckwallas include rattlesnakes, coyotes, kestrels and red-tailed hawks. When threatened, a chuckwalla will hide in its burrow, inflate its lungs and expand its skin, effectively wedging itself into place.
What is the biggest lizard in the world?
The Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. These wild dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds (70 kilograms), but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms).
How much does a chuckwalla cost?
Chuckwallas are not a popular animal within the pet trade, making their prices pretty expensive. You can expect to pay between $150 and $200 for a common Chuckwalla. If you want a Sant Esteban Chuckwalla, you can expect to pay between $800 and $1,500. Chuckwallas used to be way more common than they are now.
When was Sauromalus ater obesus first described?
Sauromales ater DUMÉRIL 1856 was described earlier and therefore has priority to S. obesus. See also Brown et al. (2001) and the ruling in the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 61 (1): 74-75 (2004) which gave the name Sauromalus ater Duméril 1856 precedence over the name Sauromalus obesus (Baird 1858).
Which is the synonym for Sauromalus ater Dumeril?
Synonymy: Hollingsworth (1998) synonymized Sauromalus obesus with S. ater because both forms (including their subspecies) show a wide range of character overlap and variation and are therefore not clearly distinguishable. Sauromales ater DUMÉRIL 1856 was described earlier and therefore has priority to S. obesus.
How many species of sauromalis are there in the world?
He concluded that there are five species of Sauromalis and did not recognize any subspecies of S. ater. In 2004 the name S. ater was officially adopted, but the name S. obesus is still used by some researchers. No subspecies of S. ater are currently recognized.
How big does a Sauromalus ater lizard get?
Reaching a total length of 20 in and a weight of .9 kg (2.0 lb). Small scales cover its body, with larger scales protecting the ear openings. The coloration of these lizards varies by location and between juveniles and adults, as well as between males and females.