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Common Chuckwalla

Sauromalus ater

Reptile · family Iguanidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Common Chuckwalla
Photo: Kaldari, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
4 states[3]
Longest recorded life
9.3 years[4]

The Common Chuckwalla is a reptile in the iguana family[5]. It is native to Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[3][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Common Chuckwalla G5 worldwide, which means Secure[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5, also Secure[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe also gives ranks for each of the 4 states, and they differ from state to state[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Common Chuckwalla lives

NatureServe lists the Common Chuckwalla as native in 4 US states: Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah[3]. GBIF observation records are mostly from California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, followed by Georgia[10]. These records show where people report the animal, not how many live there[10]. The National Park Service records it in 7 park units[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: native, state rank S3NVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S1UTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank S4AZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (4 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaS4Apparently Secure
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
NevadaS3Vulnerable
UtahS1Critically Imperiled

Habitat

NatureServe records desert and bare rock, talus and scree as its habitat types[12]. This lizard lives in rocky desert, including lava flows, hillsides and rock outcrops[13]. It takes shelter in rock crevices, and females lay eggs underground[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Common Chuckwalla eats plants[14]. NatureServe records adults as herbivores and fruit eaters[14]. It browses leaves, buds, flowers and fruit, and sometimes eats insects[15]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 42 cm (17 in)[16]. A clutch holds 5 to 16 eggs, and larger females lay more eggs[17]. Incubation lasts 35 days in AnAge[18]. Females reach sexual maturity at 913 days of age[19]. The oldest known animal in the AnAge database lived in captivity, and this is a record, not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 42 cm (17 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 9.3 years (captivity)
Gestation or incubation[18] 35 days
Female maturity[19] 913 days (about 2.5 years)
Food habits[14] Herbivore, Frugivore
Migration[20] non-migrant

When to look for it

This lizard is active by day and basks on rocks[21][22]. It is inactive in cold weather or extreme heat[22]. NatureServe lists it as hibernating or aestivating, which means resting through harsh seasons[21]. It is a non-migrant, though populations can differ[20]. In southeastern California it may be active through most of the year when winters are mild[22]. GBIF records peak in March, April and May[23].

January: 81 recordsJanFebruary: 437 recordsFebMarch: 1,608 recordsMarApril: 2,614 recordsAprMay: 2,334 recordsMayJune: 979 recordsJunJuly: 444 recordsJulAugust: 396 recordsAugSeptember: 343 recordsSepOctober: 190 recordsOctNovember: 96 recordsNovDecember: 27 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[23].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January81
February437
March1,608
April2,614
May2,334
June979
July444
August396
September343
October190
November96
December27

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Common Chuckwalla as present in 7 park units[11]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Georgia[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Common Chuckwalla endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Common Chuckwalla live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah[3]. It lives in rocky desert[13].
What does the Common Chuckwalla eat?
It mostly eats leaves, buds, flowers and fruit, and sometimes insects[15].
How big is a Common Chuckwalla?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 42 cm (17 in)[16].

Facts and sources

  1. Common Chuckwalla is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Common Chuckwalla: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Common Chuckwalla as native in 4 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 9.3 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) is a reptile in the family Iguanidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Common Chuckwalla (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Common Chuckwalla: California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Georgia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NPSpecies park lists recording Common Chuckwalla as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Common Chuckwalla: Desert, Bare rock/talus/scree. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Common Chuckwalla. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Common Chuckwalla. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 42 cm (17 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Common Chuckwalla. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 35 days. AnAge
  19. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 913 days (about 2.5 years). AnAge
  20. NatureServe migration category for Common Chuckwalla: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  22. NatureServe notes on phenology for Common Chuckwalla. NatureServe Explorer
  23. GBIF observation records of Common Chuckwalla in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Kaldari, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.