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Dipsosaurus dorsalis

(Baird and Girard, 1852)

Desert Iguana

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106096
Element CodeARACF06010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyIguanidae
GenusDipsosaurus
Other Common Names
desert iguana (EN)
Concept Reference
de Queiroz, K. 1995. Checklist and key to the extant species of Mexican iguanas (Reptilia: Iguaninae). Publicationes Especiales del Museo de Zoologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico 9:1-48.
Taxonomic Comments
Patterns of mtDNA variation show geographic patterns but do not exhibit a phylogenetic break at the Colorado River valley (in contrast to the pattern found for the desert tortoise) (Lamb et al. 1992).
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-06-24
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-06-24
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Range Extent Comments
The range encompasses southern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah along the Virgin River in the vicinity of Beaver Dam Wash (at least formerly), and southern California east of the Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges southward through northeastern Baja California and all of southern Baja California (but not most of the Vizcaino Desert) and through western and central Arizona and western Sonora to northern Sinaloa; this lizard occurs on many islands in the Gulf of California and on Magdalena and Santa Margarita islands along the Pacific coast of Baja California (Hulse 1992, Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). The range in the United States coincides closely with that of creosote bush (Stebbins 2003). Elevational range extends from below sea level in desert sinks to about 1,520 meters (5,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by hundreds of collection sites throughout the range in the United States and Mexico (e.g., see Hulse 1992).
Threat Impact Comments
In some areas, habitat has been lost or degraded as a result of conversion to human uses (agriculture, commerical and residential development, road construction). Populations along busy highways presumably have been reduced as a result of road mortality. However, these threats affect a relatively small portion of the overall range.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

The habitat most often consists of sandy arroyos or other open areas with loose soils, but sometimes the species occurs on nearby rocky hillsides (Grismer 2002). In the north, desert iguanas are typically found in creosote bush desert with hummocks of loose sand and patches of firm ground with scattered rocks, whereas in the south they may occur in subtropical scrub habitats (Stebbins 2003). These lizards seek shelter in rodent burrows or rock crevices (Grismer 2002), and they may climb into bushes (Stebbins 2003).

Ecology

Population density in optimal habitat in southern California was estimated at 600-700/ha (Krekorian 1983). Remains close to hatching site (usually within 40 m after 3 years) (Krekorian 1984). Annual survivorship high (Krekorian 1984).

In California, home range size (convex polygon) averaged up to about 600 sq m in males, smaller in females; with increasing density, home ranges tended to overlap more; density ranged up to 31-35 adults/ha (Alberts 1993).

Reproduction

Mates April to May (Behler and King 1979). Lays clutch of 3-8 eggs June-August. In California, reaches reproductive size in 31-33 months (Krekorian 1984); other estimates higher.
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
UtahSHYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
NevadaS3Yes
ArizonaS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial development——High (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areas——High (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas——High (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops——High (continuing)
4 - Transportation & service corridors——High (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroads——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (3)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
References (16)
  1. Alberts, A. C. 1993. Relationship of space use to population density in an herbivorous lizard. Herpetologica 49:469-479.
  2. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  3. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  6. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  7. de Queiroz, K. 1995. Checklist and key to the extant species of Mexican iguanas (Reptilia: Iguaninae). Publicationes Especiales del Museo de Zoologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico 9:1-48.
  8. Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California including its Pacific islands and islands in the Sea of Cortes. University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 399 pp.
  9. Hulse, A. C. 1992. <i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rept. 542.1-542.6.
  10. Krekorian, C. O'Neil. 1977. Homing in the desert iguana, <i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i>. Herpetologica 33:123-127.
  11. Krekorian, C. O'Neil. 1983. Population density of the desert iguana, <i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i> (Reptilia: Iguanidae), in southern California. Copeia 1983:268-271.
  12. Krekorian, C. O'Neil. 1984. Life history of the desert iguana, <i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i>. Herpetologica 41:415-424.
  13. Lamb, T., T. R. Jones, and J. C. Avise. 1992. Phylogenetic histories of representative herpetofauna of the southwestern U.S.: mitochondrial DNA variation in the desert iguana (<i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i>) and the chuckwalla (<i>Sauromalus obesus</i>). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 5:465-480.
  14. Parker, W. S. 1972. Notes on <i>Dipsosaurus dorsalis</i> in Arizona. Herpetologica 28:226-229.
  15. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  16. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.