CHAPTER XIV: THE GENERA SAUROMALUS 

 AND CROTAPHYTUS 



Fine-scaled Representatives of the Iguanidce 



The Chuckawallas Genus Sauromalus: Of the two species, 

 one is little known; the other is a desert reptile and fairly com- 

 mon in the southwestern portion of the United States. 



The Chuckawallas are very stout, with a fine, granular 

 scalation, both above and beneath, and on the top of the head; 

 the scales on the neck are spiny. One of these lizards attains 

 a considerable size two feet or more; the tail is short and blunt. 

 Fully adult specimens are of a dull, uniform brown. 



Definition of the Species. 



Scales of the upper surface of neck much enlarged and 

 spiny. Scales of the back terminating in a sharp point. 

 Attains a maximum length of about two feet. 



ISLAND CHUCKAWALLA, Sauromdlus Mspidus, (Stej.) 



Distribution. Has been found on Angel Island, 



Gulf of California. 



Scales of the upper surface of neck, small and granular. 

 Scales of the back rounded. 

 Attains a length of about fourteen inches. 

 COMMON CHUCKAWALLA, Sauromalus ater, (Dumeril). 



Distribution. Deserts of the Southwest. 

 Following is a detailed description of the common species: 



THE CHUCKAWALLA 



Sauromalus ater, (Dumeril) 



The largest lizard of the southwestern desert region, with 

 the exception of the Gila Monster (Heloderma). Body very 

 broad; head proportionately large. Both pairs of limbs are 

 stubby; the tail is thick, flattened (horizontally) and but slightly 

 longer than the body. 



Colouration. Mature individuals are practically uniform 



in 



