To control its body temperature, the iguana transposes its color from gray to an almost pure white hue. Usually the morning is when the iguana is the darkest and by midday changes to a lighter color so as to avoid feeling too hot.

The desert iguana is known by its scientific name dispsosaurus dorsalis. It commonly thrives in the Mojave and Sonora deserts of South-Eastern California, in Southwest Utah, Southern Nevada, Baja, California, South-Central Arizona, North-West Mexico and on islands in the Gulf of California.

For most of its life, the desert iguana prefers to stay in sandy and arid habitats, usually feeding on and around the creosote bushes and the rocks that are their shelters. Another place they utilize is the abandoned burrows of kangaroo rats. In southern habitats, desert iguanas can usually be spotted in deciduous forests and subtropical places.

Description of the Desert Iguana

When the desert iguana matures, it ranges from ten to sixteen inches long. The body becomes rounded and large. The tail grows long. The head becomes brown-colored, with a netlike outline that is reddish brown in hue. The trunk and the neck of the desert iguana contain tan and grayish spots. Meanwhile, its tail possesses some white or grayish spots.

During periods of extreme heat, the desert iguana climbs into the bushes to seek cooler areas. But despite the climate, the desert iguana remains active even at up to 115F degrees.

Since desert iguanas seek refuge in bushes, they are considered vegetarians. They are classified to be herbivores as they do eat fruits, buds and the leaves of most of the desert perennial and annual plants. They are also very fond of the yellowish flowers of the creosote bush. They also eat insects, the feces of lizards and mammals, and carrion as well.

The desert iguana is not endangered.

Desert iguanas move swiftly. They can be spotted crossing roads at a very fast pace and just ahead of the passing cars. Their hind legs are really powerful.

Among their predators are foxes, birds of prey, weasels, rats, snakes and human beings. The eggs of the desert iguana are also attacked and eaten by most animals.

The Desert Iguana's Breeding Season

Around the middle of March, desert iguanas start to come out from a long period of hibernation. The breeding season for the desert iguana is between April and May. In between the months of May and June, the desert iguana lays two to ten eggs that will hatch in the later part of July and early August. All throughout the breeding season, adult desert iguanas have a pink color on the side of their bellies.