CHUCKWALLA

(species Sauromalus obesus), stocky, slightly flattened lizard belonging to the family Iguanidae, found on arid, rocky hills of southwestern North America. It grows up to 50 cm (20 inches) long. The chuckwalla is dull-coloured but sometimes has red blotches or a dark-banded tail. It eats creosote leaves and takes shelter in rock crevices, where, if disturbed, it may inflate its lungs, increasing its body size by over half and making it difficult to dislodge.