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Origin / Distribution
The Common chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) It inhabits the deserts of the western United States and Mexico and in 30 known islands of the Gulf of Mexico. In particular, the Mojave and Sonoran deserts are known to have thriving populations of chuckwallas. They can be found as far west as southeastern California and Nevada, and are abundant in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and parts of Colorado.
Characteristics / Appearance
The Common chuckwalla it is a stocky lizard with loose folds of skin near the neck, shoulders and stomach. The skin is covered with hard scales, and the largest are between the nose and the eyes. They have five fingers on each end and the tail is rounded at the tip.. Head color can range from dark brown and gray to dark yellow. Color variation depends on geographic location, the temperature, environment and mood. The tail is thicker near the body and tapers towards the tip.. Males are slightly larger than females and, in some cases, have different scale patterns and head shapes. Females may have a slightly narrower snout and head.. There is also variation in color, juveniles and females have lighter markings than males. The average weight is 245 g. (range of 24 to 315 g.), although males are usually heavier than females. The average length of the head is 35,5 mm and its greatest width is 33,2 mm. The mean length of the snout is 162 mm (range of 80 to 197 mm) and the tail length is 182 mm. Almost half of the length corresponds to the tail.
Habitat
The Common chuckwalla found in deserts, where the air is warm and dry (of 9 to 45 degrees Celsius). They are found in deserts with rocks and crevices to hide in., as areas of ancient lava flows, rocky slopes and outcrops. They use burrows and underground cracks to hibernate in winter.. They inhabit insular and coastal environments. These lizards require a moderate amount of vegetation and foliage in the habitat in order to sustain themselves.. The Common chuckwalla can be found between sea level and 1400 m above sea level.
Behavior
The Common chuckwalla it is mainly solitary and diurnal. They leave rock shelters during the day to eat foliage, but they usually stay close to their shelters. They are active from mid-March to mid-August, but they can aestivate in the summer months when food is scarce. From November to March they can go through brumation (similar to hibernation, but observed in ectotherms). They are active for a 8 hours a day, usually between 06:30 and 19:00. The activity of the Common chuckwalla is greater among 9:15 and 11:30. To avoid overheating, they move in and out of the shade and adopt different orientations towards the sun. Most of their time is spent basking on rocks when they are not foraging for food.. They take refuge in cracks and shallow holes during the hottest part of the day and use these cracks to avoid predators.. Males are territorial and fight over territory and females. The females are not hostile to each other, but the hierarchies of males and females are based on the size.
Developing
After a gestation period of one month, females lay eggs in an underground nest. Once the Common chuckwalla come out of the egg, begin to grow at a rate of about 17 mm per year. The Common chuckwalla abandons its young after hatching and the young are independent at that time. They reach sexual maturity around 2 or 3 years. Reaching adult size takes a few 25 years, after which they continue to grow but at a significantly slower rate, of about 5,5 mm per year. Growth rate is related to food abundance. The Common chuckwalla grows more in spring and summer, when the temperature is high and food is plentiful. La muda, or detachment of the epidermis, also occurs in spring, when the growth rate is high.
Reproduction
the courtship of the Common chuckwalla is that males attract females by their size or persistence. Males usually have several females living in their territory and mate with them.. The males of the Common chuckwalla use head movement, the licks, the circles, the pushes, jaw rubs and other methods to persuade females to mate. Females allow copulation if they determine the male is desired., males can prevail if they are big and forceful. During copulation, males use their mandibles to grasp females by the loose skin on the nape of the neck. Mating usually takes place in early spring, after hibernation. Both sexes have multiple partners year after year. Males compete for females by biting and head-butting..
The Common chuckwalla breeds between April and August, when food is more abundant. When females are receptive, your ovaries enlarge. Males produce sperm each year., while females produce eggs every two years, average. Males reach sexual maturity when they reach 125 mm length at snout, that is to say, to the 2 years of age. Females reach sexual maturity at the same length, but they may take 2 to 3 years to reach it. The average clutch size per breeding season varies from 5 to 16 eggs and the annual reproductive frequency of each female varies greatly from year to year depending on food availability and rainfall. Some females produce two separate clutches., others produce none. The females incubate the eggs until they hatch.. The incubation period lasts about 35 days (range of 33 to 50 days). The hatching mass range of eggs is 6,0 to 9,6 g.. Larger females produce clutches more often than smaller females.. But, smaller females may breed in consecutive years.
Females prepare an underground nest in an area with dry soil that is unlikely to be disturbed.. The females protect their eggs from predators and other threats while they incubate them.. But, after hatching, females no longer care for their young. Males do not provide parental care.
Food
The Common chuckwalla It is herbivorous and feeds on perennial and annual plants.. Their diet is usually high in fiber and low in fat and protein. Annual plants make up the 60% your diet in the summer months, while the perennials suppose the 40%. When annual plants die in winter, perennials become their main food source. They have been observed feeding on the leaves and fruit of creosote bushes in the summer months. (Pasture tridentate), as well as some insects that reside in the vegetation they eat. The (Oenothera clavaeformis) and the desert ambrosia (Franseria dumosa) are the main plants in the diet of the Common chuckwalla. In captivity they feed on various vegetables, fruits and flowers. They obtain water from the plants they eat and produce it metabolically.
Life expectancy
The Common chuckwalla usually live 10 years or more, if the right conditions are met, limited predation and adequate food availability. The half-life in nature is estimated to be about 15 years. Although there is considerable variability from year to year, Survival in the first year is estimated to be 38%. The mortality of the eggs is the one that most affects the survival of animals less than one year old. Those who survive beyond one year experience a median survival of 75% annual. The Common chuckwalla oldest known in nature had 30 years. The Common chuckwalla oldest in captivity lived to be 65 years.
Threats to the species
State of conservation ⓘ |
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Minor Concern ⓘ
(UICN)ⓘ
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The populations of Common chuckwalla are protected by national parks and, course, for its remote habitat (rugged terrain and harsh climate). Trends toward development in desert areas of the United States and parts of Mexico are affecting the habitat of the Common chuckwalla; However, the status of the population as a whole has been reported as large and stable.
The commercial sales of Common chuckwalla have not shown any major impact on the species as a whole, but some subspecies are locally threatened by overharvesting and habitat degradation. The South Mountain Subpopulation, near phoenix (Arizona), is in the spotlight because it has a unique color pattern that is desirable for the pet trade. The Colorado River Dam has greatly reduced the populations of Common chuckwalla in the Glen Canyon area, in Utah, and goat herding activities, sheep and donkeys have shown a small negative impact. In general, the IUCN classifies the Common chuckwalla like "Least concern» due to the wide distribution of the population and the absence of immediate threats. Although the total size of the population is not known, it is estimated that the total size of the adult population could be 100.000 or more.
The "Common chuckwalla" in captivity
The terrarium
The necessary size of the terrarium for a "Common chuckwalla" is of 120 cm long x 100 cm wide x 60 cm high or 120 cm long x 60 cm wide x 100 centimeters tall, respectively. The terrarium consists of a combination of wood and glass. Inside the terrarium there may be a self-made rear wall with many protrusions and indentations. The Common chuckwalla use almost exclusively the back wall and rarely stay on the ground. There may be a large ventilation area at the front under sliding glass over the entire length of the terrarium. in addition, about half of the lid consists of a ventilation zone to ensure the necessary ventilation.
Furniture
The terrarium substrate consists of a mixture of Lucky Reptile Desert Bedding and shell sand. To some Common chuckwalla they like to eat the small pieces of crushed rock from the shell. There can also be multiple roots, cork tubes, stones and branches in the terrarium. Live plants are eaten immediately, so you should no longer use real plants for decoration. Stones and heavy objects must be firmly anchored, since the animals like to undermine everything and then there is danger of collapse.
Lighting and temperature
Light is a crucial factor in keeping and rearing these lizards.. The terrarium can be illuminated with two T9 fluorescent tubes of 38W each.. Two Solar Raptors 70W serve as heat and UV source. It also, every hour a SolarGlo 150W from Exoterra.
The temperature in the terrarium ranges between 26°C and 30°C. Temperatures of up to 42°C are reached under the radiators. The humidity is around 40% during the day and go up to the 60% At night.
Food
The Common chuckwalla Adult feeds almost exclusively on plants.. Juveniles occasionally hunt grasshoppers, crickets and worms. It is important to feed the animals with a varied diet so that there is no imbalance in the mineral balance. Vegetable food is given daily. During the week, they can have a fast day. What must never be forgotten is to regularly supplement the diet with a vitamin preparation.
You can give them grated carrot, all kinds of lettuce, dandelion and its flowers, Cucumber, cooked rice, zucchini, Peppers, strawberries, raspberries, grated apple and rarely banana. Caution. Please, don't feed them cabbage, as this causes life-threatening flatulence. as with all animals, you have to try what and how much they like to eat. In principle, you can't overfeed them with vegetables, so you always have to have something available.
A great gift is assorted sprouts that you can grow yourself on the windowsill. As such, I spread the lentils, wheat and millet in a container with moist soil and water them daily. after only three days, you can see the first spikes growing out of the ground. After a week and a half or two, the chuckwallas get the bowl with the fresh green.
There is also always a bowl with various grains, like red and brown lentils, special dry food for herbivores, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
Of course, a bowl of water should not be missing either.
Hibernation
Hibernation is an important part of the life of the Common chuckwalla all the years.
At the end of October / beginning of November, animals become increasingly lethargic and reduce their food intake.
Light duration is reduced from 12-14 to 5 hours a day for weeks while minimizing feeding.
During this time, just offer more water.
for the final hibernation, the animals are moved to a terrarium, similar to turtles.
The optimum temperature is between 12 – 10 degrees.
They wake up slowly in mid to early March.
The hibernation of Common chuckwalla it is a somewhat difficult matter, since the animals should not wake up too early.
This means that the process of lowering lighting and temperature, as well as upload it, must be done very slowly.
Buy one "Common chuckwalla"
The "Common chuckwalla" not an easy reptile to find. Its price in the exotic animal market ranges from 200 – 300 EUR. It is important that your acquisition comes from animals bred in captivity to preserve their status in the natural environment.
Videos "Common chuckwalla"
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Alternative names:
1. Common chuckwalla (English).
2. Chuckwalla (French).
3. Chuckwalla (German).
4. Chuckwalla comum (Portuguese).
5. "Chacahuala del Noroeste" (español).
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