Species Reptiles & AmphibiansCommon Chuckwalla

Common Chuckwalla

Sauromalus ater

CommonReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater)

The Common Chuckwalla is a large, plant-eating lizard of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. When threatened, it wedges itself into rock crevices and inflates its body with air, making it nearly impossible to remove.

Habitat
Rocky desert and lava flows with creosote bush and other desert shrubs
Diet
Flowers, leaves, and fruits of desert plants
How common
Common

Recent Common Chuckwalla sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Common Chuckwalla? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More reptiles & amphibians

African Clawed Frog
African Clawed Frog
Xenopus laevis
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus ochrophaeus
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Macrochelys temminckii
American Alligator
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
American Bullfrog
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
American Crocodile
American Crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
American Toad
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
Arboreal Salamander
Arboreal Salamander
Aneides lugubris