You are here » home › advanced search › Dipsosaurus dorsalis

Dipsosaurus dorsalis (BAIRD & GIRARD, 1852)

IUCN Red List - Dipsosaurus dorsalis - Least Concern, LC
iNaturalist logo

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Dipsosaurus dorsalis?

Add your own observation of
Dipsosaurus dorsalis »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaIguanidae, Iguania, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
SubspeciesDipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis (BAIRD & GIRARD 1852)
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis ALLEN 1933 
Common NamesE: Desert Iguana
dorsalis: Western Desert Iguana, Northern Desert Iguana
sonoriensis: Sonoran Desert Iguana
S: Cachorón Güero 
SynonymCrotaphytus dorsalis BAIRD & GIRARD 1852
Dipso-saurus dorsalis — HALLOWELL 1854
Dipsosaurus dorsalis — BOULENGER 1885: 201
Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis — VAN DENBURGH 1920
Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis VAN DENBURGH 1920
Dipsosaurus carmenensis VAN DENBURGH 1922
Dipsosaurus dorsalis carmenensis VAN DENBURGH 1922
Dipsosaurus carmenensis VAN DENBURGH 1922
Dipsosaurus carmenensis — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950
Dipsosaurus dorsalis — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950
Dipsosaurus dorsalis carmenensis — SAVAGE & CLIFF 1954
Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis — LEVITON & BANTA 1964
Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis — SOULÉ & SLOAN 1966
Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis — SMITH & HOLLAND 1971
Dipsosaurus dorsalis — STEBBINS 1985: 114
Dipsosaurus dorsalis carmenensis — HULSE 1992
Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis — HULSE 1992
Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis — HULSE 1992
Dipsosaurus dorsalis — LINER 1994
Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis — CROTHER 2000
Dipsosaurus dorsalis dorsalis — BUCKLEY et al. 2016

Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis ALLEN 1933
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis ALLEN 1933: 4
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis — TAYLOR 1938: 480
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis — SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 79
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis — HARDY 1969: 124
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis — HULSE 1992
Dipsosaurus dorsalis sonoriensis — BUCKLEY et al. 2016
Dipsosaurus dorsalis — HEIMES 2022 
DistributionUSA (SE California, S Nevada, W Arizona, SW Utah),
Mexico (Baja California, W Sonora, NW Sinaloa)

Type locality: Desert of Colorado, California. Restricted to Winterhaven = Fort Yuma), Imperial County, by SMITH & TAYLOR 1950: 78.

carmenensis: endemic to Isla Carmen, Gulf of California. Type locality: 'Near Puerto Bellandro, Carmen Island,Gulf of California, Mexico."

lucasensis: Mexico (Baja California); Type locality: San Jose de Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.

sonoriensis: Mexico (Sonora); Type locality: 8.1 km SE Hermosilio.  
Reproductionoviparous 
TypesHolotype: USNM 2699
Holotype: CAS 50504 [carmenensis]
Holotype: CAS 46090 [lucasensis]
Holotype: UMMZ 72121 [sonoriensis] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (genus): differs from all other iguanid genera in possessing the following combination of character states: a) large, paired openings at or near the frontonasal suture, b) parietal foramen located entirely within the frontal bone, c) lateral process of palatine behind infraorbital foramen small or absent, d) medial borders of pterygoids curve sharply toward the midline anterior to pterygoid notch, e) lateral pointed processes present on cristae interfenestralis, f) posterior ends of lateral and medial crests of retroarticular process diverge ontogenetically so that the outline of the the retroarticular process is quadrangular in large specimens, g) crowns of the posterior marginal teeth with four cusps, h) pterygoid teeth usually absent (if present, lying along medial edge of pterygoid), i) superciliary scales greatly elongate and strongly overlapping, j) one subocular scale much longer than others (John Iverson et al., pers. comm.). 
CommentSubspecies: The separation of D. d. carmenensis is based only on a higher average number of femoral pores (43.1 vs. 37.5); GRISMER (1999) therefore synonymized it with D. dorsalis. GRISMER (1999) elevated catalinensis to full (evolutionary) species status. Grismer et al. 1994 considered D. dorsalis lucasensis as a synonym of D. dorsalis, but see Smith & Holland 1971 who emphasized the differences between dorsalis and lucasensis.

Type species: Crotaphytus dorsalis BAIRD & GIRARD 1852 is the type species of the genus Dipsosaurus HALLOWELL 1854. 
EtymologyPresumably named after Latin dorsalis (of the back), relating to the characteristic dorsal pattern.

The genus was possibly named after Greek dipsos (δίψος), thirst + Greek sauros (σαῦρος), lizard. 
References
  • Adrian, Ian 2019. Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) foraging behavior within a Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata), Saguaro National Park, Pima County, southeastern Arizona. Sonoran Herpetologist 32 (2): 36 - get paper here
  • Alberts, A.C.; Carter, R.L.; Hayes, W.K. & Martins, E.P. (eds.) 2004. Iguanas - Biology and Conservation. University of California Press, 356 pp. - get paper here
  • Avery, D. F.; Tanner, W. W. 1971. Evolution of the iguanine lizards (Sauria, Iguanidae) as determined by osteological and myological characters. Brigham Young University Science Bulletin 12 (3): 1-79
  • Baird, S.F. and Girard,C. 1852. Characteristics of some new reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, part 2. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 6: 125-129 - get paper here
  • Bealor, M.T. & C.O. Krekorian 2002. Chemosensory Identification of Lizard-Eating Snakes in the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Squamata: Iguanidae) Journal of Herpetology 36 (1): 9-15. - get paper here
  • Belkin, D.A. 1961. The Running Speeds of the Lizards Dipsosaurus dorsalis and Callisaurus draconoides Copeia 1961 (2): 223-224. - get paper here
  • Bezy, R. L., P. C. Rosen, T. R. Van Devender, and E. F. Enderson. 2017. Southern distributional limits of the Sonoran Desert herpetofauna along the mainland coast of northwestern Mexico. Mesoamerican Herpetology 4(1): 138–167 - get paper here
  • Bezy, R.L. 2010. Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Baird and Girard, 1852). Herpetofauna of the 100 Mile Circle. Sonoran Herpetologist 23 (10):136-142. - get paper here
  • Blackburn, D.G. 1994. Standardized criteria for the recognition of embryonic nutritional patterns in squamate reptiles. Copeia 1994 (4): 925-935 - get paper here
  • Blais, Brian R. and Corey J. Shaw 2018. In the Heat of the Night: Assessing Nocturnal Activity of the Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis). Sonoran Herpetologist 31 (4): 65-70 - get paper here
  • Bonetti, Mathilde 2002. 100 Sauri. Mondadori (Milano), 192 pp. - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 2, Second edition. London, xiii+497 pp. - get paper here
  • Buckley, Larry J.; Kevin de Queiroz, Tandora D. Grant, Bradford D. Hollingsworth, John B. Iverson (Chair, <br>Stesha A. Pasachnik, and Catherine L. Stephen (Iguana Taxonomy Working Group, ITWG 2016. A Checklist of the Iguanas of the World (Iguanidae; Iguaninae). Herp. Cons. Biol. 11 (Monograph 6) - get paper here
  • Burré, G. 2002. Begegnungen mit Iguaniden im Südwesten der USA. Iguana Rundschreiben 15 (2): 13-21
  • Burt, Charles E. 1933. Some lizards from the Great Basin of the West and adjacent areas, with comments on the status of various forms. American Midland Naturalist 14: 228-250 - get paper here
  • Carpenter, C.C. 1961. Patterns of social behavior of the desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Copeia 1961 (4): 396-405. - get paper here
  • Cooper, W.E., Jr. & A.C. Alberts 1990. Responses to Chemical Food Stimuli by an Herbivorous Actively Foraging Lizard, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Herpetologica 46 (3): 259-266. - get paper here
  • Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2012. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians, Seventh Edition. Herpetological Circular 39: 1-92
  • de Queiroz K 1995. Checklist and key to the extant species of Mexican iguanas (Reptilia: Iguaninae). Publ. Esp. Mus. Zool. Univ. Nac. Autón. México 9: 1-48
  • Dussault, M.H. & C.O. Krekorian 1991. Conspecific Discrimination by Chemoreception in the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Herpetologica 47 (1): 82-88. - get paper here
  • Glinski, T.H. & C.O. Krekorian 1985. Individual Recognition in Free-Living Adult Male Desert Iguanas, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Journal of Herpetology 19 (4): 541-544. - get paper here
  • Gloyd, Howard K. 1937. A herpetological consideration of faunal areas in Southern Arizona. Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Sciences 5 (5): 77-136 - get paper here
  • Goldberg, S.R. 2015. Notes on reproduction in Desert Iguanas, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Squamata: Iguanidae) from Arizona. Sonoran Herpetologist 28 (3):27-28. - get paper here
  • Goldberg, Stephen R. 2013. Dipsosaurus dorsalis (desert iguana) reproduction Baja California Sur. Herpetological Review 44 (2): 322-323 - get paper here
  • González-Romero, A., & Alvarez-Cárdenas, S. 1989. Herpetofauna de la Region del Pinacate, Sonora, Mexico: Un Inventario. The Southwestern Naturalist, 34(4), 519–526 - get paper here
  • Grismer, L. Lee. 1999. An evolutionary classification of reptiles on islands in the Gulf of California, México. Herpetologica 55 (4): 446-469 - get paper here
  • Haase, Klaus. 2013. Der Wüstenleguan Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Baird & Girard, 1852) - Haltung und Zucht im Terrarium. Sauria 35 (4): 23-29 - get paper here
  • Hardy, L.M., & McDiarmid, R.W. 1969. The amphibians and reptiles of Sinaloa, Mexico. Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist. 18 (3): 39-252. - get paper here
  • Heimes, P. 2022. LIZARDS OF MEXICO - Part 1 Iguanian lizards. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt Am Main, 448 pp. - get paper here
  • Hulse, Arthur C. 1988. Bibliography of Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Smithsonian Herp. Inf. Serv. (74): 1-25 - get paper here
  • Hulse, Arthur C. 1992. Dipsosaurus, D. dorsalis. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (542): 1-6 - get paper here
  • Jones, L.L. & Lovich, R.E. 2009. Lizards of the American Southwest. A photographic field guide. Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, AZ, 568 pp. [review in Reptilia 86: 84] - get paper here
  • Krekorian, C.O. 1976. Home Range Size and Overlap and Their Relationship to Food Abundance in the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Herpetologica 32 (4): 405-412. - get paper here
  • Krekorian, C.O. 1977. Homing in the desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Herpetologica 33 (1): 123-127. - get paper here
  • Krekorian, C.O. 1983. Population Density of the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis (Reptilia: Iguanidae), in Southern California Copeia 1983 (1): 268-271. - get paper here
  • Krekorian, C.O. 1984. Life History of the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Herpetologica 40 (4): 415-424. - get paper here
  • Krekorian, C.O. 1989. Field and Laboratory Observations on Chemoreception in the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Journal of Herpetology 23 (3): 267-273. - get paper here
  • Kreutz, R. 2006. Bau und Betrieb eines Gewächshauses für die Haltung von Echsen. Draco 7 (26): 79-83 - get paper here
  • Lamb, Trip; Jones, Thomas R.; Avise, John C. 1992. Phylogeographic histories of representative herpetofauna of the southwestern U.S.: mitochondrial DNA variation in the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) and the chuckewalla (Sauromalus obesus). Journal of Evolutionary Biology 5 (3): 465-480. - get paper here
  • Langebartel, David A. & SMith, H.M. 1954. Summary of the Norris Collection of reptiles and amphibians from Sonora, Mexico. Herpetologica 10: 125-136 - get paper here
  • Langerwerf, B. 2009. Wüstenleguane (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) und ihre Vermehrung im Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 14 (78): 69-72 - get paper here
  • Langerwerf, B. 2010. Captive Care and Breeding of the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Reptilia (GB) (69): 31-34 - get paper here
  • Lemos-Espinal JA, Smith GR 2020. A checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Sinaloa, Mexico with a conservation status summary and comparisons with neighboring states. ZooKeys 931: 85-114 - get paper here
  • Lemos-Espinal JA, Smith GR, Rorabaugh JC 2019. A conservation checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Sonora, Mexico, with updated species lists. ZooKeys 829: 131-160 - get paper here
  • Leviton, Alan E.; Banta, Benjamin H. 1964. Midwinter reconnaissance of the herpetofauna of the Cape Region of Baja California, Mexico. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 30 (7): 127-156 - get paper here
  • Lovich, R.E.; Grismer, L.L. & Danemann, G. 2009. CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE HERPETOFAUNA OF BAJA CALIFORNIA, MÉXICO AND ASSOCIATED ISLANDS IN THE SEA OF CORTEZ AND PACIFIC OCEAN. Herp. Cons. Biol. 4 (3):358-378 - get paper here
  • Mantel, Piet 2003. A remarkably long period of inactivity in Dipsosaurus dorsalis Podarcis 4 (1): 11-18 - get paper here
  • Mayhew, W.W. 1971. Reproduction in the Desert Lizard, Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Herpetologica 27 (1): 57-77. - get paper here
  • Minnich, J.E. 1970. Evaporative Water loss from the desert iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Copeia 1970 (3): 575-578. - get paper here
  • Minnich, J.E. 1971. Seasonal Variation in Weight-Length Relationships and Fat Body Size in the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis Copeia 1971 (2): 359-362. - get paper here
  • Mocquard, M.F. 1899. Contribution a la faune herpétologique de la Basse-Californie. Nouv. Arch. Mus. Hist. Natur.Paris, 4th Series, Vol. 1: 297-343 + plates XI-XIII - get paper here
  • Muth, A. 1977. Eggs and Hatchlings of Captive Dipsosaurus dorsalis Copeia 1977 (1): 189-190. - get paper here
  • Nevárez-de los Reyes; Manuel, David Lazcano, Javier Banda-Leal and Ian Recchio 2014. Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 22: Herpetofauna of the Continental Portion of the Municipality of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(8):105-115 - get paper here
  • Norris, K.S. 1953. The Ecology of the Desert Iguana Dipsosaurus Dorsalis. Ecology 34 (2): 265-287 - get paper here
  • Parker, W. S. 1972. Notes on Dipsosaurus dorsalis in Arizona. Herpetologica 28 (3): 226-229 - get paper here
  • Peralta-García A, Valdez-Villavicencio JH, Fucsko LA, Hollingsworth BD, Johnson JD, Mata-Silva V, Rocha A, DeSantis DL, Porras LW, and Wilson LD. 2023. The herpetofauna of the Baja California Peninsula and its adjacent islands, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation status. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 17(1&2): 57–142
  • Pianka, E. R. 1966. Convexity, desert lizards, and spatial heterogeneity. Ecology 47 (6): 1055-1059 - get paper here
  • Pianka, E. R. 1967. On lizard species diversity: North American flatland deserts. Ecology 48 (3): 333-351 - get paper here
  • Pianka, Eric R. 1971. Comparative ecology of two lizards. Copeia 1971 (1): 129-138 - get paper here
  • Pianka, Eric R. 1973. The structure of lizard communities. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 4: 53-74 - get paper here
  • Revell, T.K. & W.K. Hayes 2009. Desert Iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) Sleep Less When in Close Proximity to a Rattlesnake Predator (Crotalus cerastes) Journal of Herpetology 43 (1): 29-37. - get paper here
  • Savage, Jay M.; Cliff, Frank S. 1954. A new snake, Phyllorhynchus arenicola, from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 67: 69-76 - get paper here
  • Schimmelpfennig, U. 2017. Some like it hot. Wüstenleguane im Südwesten der USA. Reptilia (Münster) 22 (127): 52-56 - get paper here
  • Slevin, Joseph R.;Leviton, Alan E. 1956. Holotype specimens of reptiles and amphibians in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences. [type catalogue] Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 28 (14): 529-560 - get paper here
  • Smith, H. M.; Holland, R. L. 1971. Noteworthy snakes and lizards from Baja California. Journal of Herpetology 5 (1-2): 56-59 - get paper here
  • Smith, Hobart M. 1939. An annotated list of the Mexican amphibians and reptiles in the Carnegie Museum. Annals of the Carnegie Museum 27: 311-320
  • Smith, Hobart M. 1946. Handbook of Lizards: Lizards of the United States and of Canada. Comstock, Ithaca, NY, xxii + 557 pp.
  • Soulé, Michael & Sloan, Allen J. 1966. Biogeography and distribution of the reptiles and amphibians on islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 14 (11): 137-156 - get paper here
  • Stebbins,R.C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston
  • Stejneger, L.H. 1893. Annotated list of the reptiles and batrachians collected by the Death Valley Expedition in 1891, with descriptions of new species. North American Fauna, No. 7: 159-228 (+ 14 plates + 4 maps) - get paper here
  • Sullivan, Brian K. and James M. Vernon. 2015. Dipsosaurus dorsalis (desert iguana) urban habitats. Herpetological Review 46 (1): 90-91 - get paper here
  • Taylor, Edward Harrison 1938. Notes on the herpetological fauna of the Mexican state of Sonora. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 24 (19): 475-503 [1936] - get paper here
  • Tevis, lloyd, Jr. 1944. Herpetological notes from lower California. Copeia 1944 (1): 6-18 - get paper here
  • Turner, D.S., and C. Olson. 2005. Blood-feeding midges in Arizona: New lizard hosts and range extension for Leptoconops californiensis. Sonoran Herpetologist 18 (5):54-55. - get paper here
  • Valdivia-Carrillo, Tania; Francisco J. García-De León, Ma. Carmen Blázquez, Carina Gutiérrez-Flores, Patricia González Zamorano 2017. Phylogeography and ecological niche modelling of the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis, Baird & Girard 1852) in the Baja California Peninsula. J Hered 2017 esx064., doi: 10.1093/jhered/esx064 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh, John 1922. The Reptiles of Western North America. Volume I. Lizards. Occ. Pap. Cal. Acad. Sci. (10): 1–612 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh, John and Joseph R. Slevin 1913. A list of the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona, with notes on the species in the collection of the Academy. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 3 (13): 391-454 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh, John and Joseph R. Slevin 1920. Description of a new lizard (Dipsosaurus dorsalis lucasensis ) from Lower California. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. 10 (4): 33-34 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh,J. 1895. A review of the herpetology of Lower California. Part I - Reptiles. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (2) 5: 77-163 - get paper here
  • Villegas-Patraca R, Aguilar-López JL, Hernández-Hernández JC, Muñoz-Jiménez O 2022. Diversity and conservation of terrestrial vertebrates (birds, mammals, and reptiles) of Sierra Cucapá, Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. ZooKeys 1088: 17-39 - get paper here
  • Weathers, W.W. 1970. Physiological thermoregulation in the Lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis Copeia 1970 (3): 549-557. - get paper here
  • Werning, H. & D. Scherer & L. Barkam 2002. Nachzucht des Wüstenleguans Dipsosaurus dorsalis (BAIRD &amp; GIRARD, 1852) bis zur F2-Generation. Salamandra 38 (4): 213-222 - get paper here
  • Werning, Heiko 2012. Die Reptilien und Amphibien des Südwestens. Draco 13 (50): 18-60 - get paper here
  • Werning, Heiko 2014. Leguane im „Wilden Westen“. Terraria-Elaphe 2014 (2): 16-25 - get paper here
  • Woodbury, Angus M.;Hardy, Ross 1940. Northern crested lizard collected in Utah. Copeia 1940 (3): 205 - get paper here
  • Wright, R.K. & H.C. Schapiro 1973. Primary and Secondary Immune Responses of the Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus Dorsalis Herpetologica 29 (3): 275-280. - get paper here
  • Zimmerman, Linda C.; andC. Richard Tracy 1989. Interactions between the Environment and Ectothermy and Herbivory in Reptiles. Physiological Zoology, 62(2): 374–409 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:


Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator