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Dipsosaurus dorsalis (BAIRD & GIRARD, 1852)

IUCN Red List - Dipsosaurus dorsalis - Least Concern, LC
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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
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