Desert Iguana (5760339498)

Description:

Description: This desert iguana was photographed in California's Colorado Desert, part of the larger Sonoran Desert located in Riverside County. Desert iguanas are medium-sized lizards reaching lengths of up to 16 inches, including the tail, and are most commonly found in sandy desert regions, among rock and creosote bush. This lizard is tolerant of high temperatures and can be seen active during the mid-day after other lizards have retreated to their burrows to avoid the extreme heat. Primarily herbivorous, desert iguanas eat the leaves and yellow flowers of the creosote bush, but will also feed on insects. They will burrow around and under the plant's roots for shelter and to avoid predators, but will often use ready-made burrows of kit foxes and desert tortoises. (Tannika Engelhard/USFWS ). Date: 17 May 2011, 12:32. Source: Desert Iguana. Author: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US.