| Five Tips On <a rel="nofollow" | | | | 3) Food – desert iguanas are primarily |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | herbivorous. This means that they are inclined to eat |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=" care</a> | | | | plant matter. They will eat bud, leaves and fruits of |
| | | | | many types of perennial or annual plants that are |
| 1) Description – the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus | | | | found in their habitats. They are especially attracted |
| Dorsalis) is 10 to 16 inches long when fully grown. It | | | | to the yellow flowers of the creosote plant. |
| has a large, round body with a long tail. In fact, the | | | | 4) Behavior – as said before, desert iguanas |
| tail of the desert iguana is longer than its body. | | | | remain active even during intense heat. However, if |
| Described as "blunt-headed", desert iguanas have | | | | the heat proves too much, a desert iguana will climb |
| very distinct coloring patterns. The head of the | | | | bushes in order to seek cooler temperatures. They |
| desert iguana is colored brown. This coloration | | | | are very quick and they can often be seen crossing |
| diffuses into reddish brown pattern which could be | | | | roads just before an oncoming car. When a desert |
| described as looking like a net. | | | | iguana runs at these speeds, it often does so on two |
| The desert iguana has gray spots on the trunk and | | | | legs. It folds its front legs near its body and uses its |
| neck. Desert iguanas also have dark spots on their | | | | powerful hind legs to propel it forward. |
| white or gray tails. A row of dorsal scales are located | | | | 5) Natural enemies –like other animals, desert |
| down the center of the back of the desert iguana. | | | | iguanas have natural enemies. In fact, even before |
| 2) Habitat – As can be gleamed from its common | | | | they hatch, there area lot of animals which would eat |
| name, the desert iguana lives in arid desert regions. | | | | iguana eggs. A mature desert iguana also has |
| Desert iguanas are commonly found in the Sonoran | | | | different birds of prey as its natural enemy. |
| and Mojave deserts founding the southwest of the | | | | Other common enemies of the desert iguana are |
| United States. They are also located in Northwestern | | | | small animals such as rats, weasels, foxes and snakes. |
| Mexico and some islands on the Gulf of California. In | | | | Of course, man is also one common enemy of the |
| the southern part of its habitat, the desert iguana | | | | iguana. Many a desert iguana has fallen prey to the |
| usually lives in arid subtropical areas and deciduous | | | | automobile. These desert iguanas are now referred |
| forests. | | | | to as "roadkill" by the human beings who drive these |
| In the desert, these animals can usually be found | | | | machines carelessly and without regard for the lives |
| around the range of the creosote bush. The desert | | | | of small animals. |
| iguana makes use of the creosote bush for shelter | | | | These are just some facts about desert iguanas. As |
| and for food. There are also several cases of desert | | | | you can see, there are many things about them that |
| iguanas moving into the abandoned lairs of kangaroo | | | | people need to know. Hopefully, these facts have |
| rats. | | | | opened your eyes and have shown you that desert |
| They are hardy animals, often active even when | | | | iguanas are so much more than stupid medium sized |
| other lizards have already retreated from the heat. | | | | lizards. By learning all you can about desert iguanas, |
| They are also inclined to burrow into the soil near | | | | you will soon be able to fully appreciate their beauty. |
| creosote bushes. | | | | |