Over 50 lizard species make their home in the state of Arizona. Arizona contains both dry deserts and temperate forests, allowing for a diverse variety of lizards to live there.
The only poisonous lizard native to the United States – the Gila monster – lives in Arizona. However, it is a slow lizard and is more likely to flee if an encounter with a human takes place.
Most Common Lizard: Common side-blotched lizard
Large Lizards: Regal horned lizard, Gila monster, common chuckwalla
Small Lizards: Arizona night lizard, sagebrush lizard
Desert spiny lizards, several tree lizard species, and some iguanas have been observed to engage in behavior like a human doing push-ups. This may be an attempt by the lizard to protect its territory and show off to a potential mate.