# Chuckwalla (*Sauromalus ater*)

> The chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) is a bulky herbivorous lizard of rocky deserts in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. When threatened it wedges into rock crevices and inflates its body so predators cannot extract it. Adults weigh about 0.9 kg and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Reptile
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Rocky deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/chuckwalla/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Reptilia
- **Order:** Squamata
- **Family:** Iguanidae
- **Genus:** Sauromalus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Sauromalus ater |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Lava flows, rocky outcrops, and desert scrub |
| Lifespan | Around 25 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.9 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 5 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Inflatable rock specialist

Loose folds of skin let chuckwallas gulp air and swell inside cracks. Males are often darker-headed; both sexes bask on lava flows and boulder piles.

## Desert flowers and leaves

Strictly herbivorous: leaves, flowers, and fruits of desert plants such as creosote-associated annuals. They obtain much water from food. Across its range it is tied to lava flows, rocky outcrops, and desert scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Southwest rock deserts

Lava flows, rocky outcrops, and desert scrub of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Across its range it is tied to lava flows, rocky outcrops, and desert scrub, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Heat and habitat intact

Least Concern across a still-extensive rocky range. Collection for pets is regulated in some areas; climate extremes mainly affect activity seasons rather than causing collapse.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do chuckwallas escape predators?

They dive into rock crevices and inflate with air so they cannot be pulled out.

### Do chuckwallas eat insects?

No — they are herbivores feeding on desert leaves, flowers, and fruits.

### Are chuckwallas venomous?

No for the chuckwalla.

### Where do chuckwallas live?

Rocky deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

### How long do chuckwallas live?

Decades are possible; captive animals often exceed 20–25 years. Native range summary: Rocky deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/chuckwalla/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.