desert iguana (free roaming)

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  Great Argus

• 27 Aug 2021

Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura sp. Apparently conspicuosa and macrolopha are both common on ASDM grounds.

 

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  birdsandbats

• 27 Aug 2021

This isn't a Desert Iguana, it's a hybrid between a Sonoran Spiny-tailed Iguana and a San Esteban Spiny-tailed Iguana.

EDIT: Cross post with Great Argus. No pure individuals of either species occur in AZ, any seen are hybrids.

 

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  Arizona Docent

• 27 Aug 2021

Thanks to both for clarification. If it's not a cat I have no idea. I should have just put big lizard free roaming!

 

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  Chlidonias

• 27 Aug 2021

"Free roaming" means wild?

 

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  Ituri

• 27 Aug 2021

@Chlidonias means released on museum grounds and reproducing freely.

 

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  Arizona Docent

• 27 Aug 2021

@Chlidonias What Ituri said. They are "wild" but non-native (to this part of Sonoran Desert, though they are native to Mexico). Apparently they do not leave the museum grounds so they are not considered a threat to the region like many introduced species.

 

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  birdsandbats

• 27 Aug 2021

@Arizona Docent It's not true that they do not leave museum grounds. Although most of the population is on the museum grounds, they are found in parts of Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro NP West.

 

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  birdsandbats

• 27 Aug 2021

@Chlidonias Yes, these are descended from animals that escaped the museum in the 70s and have been living wild ever since.