Sauromalus ater

Sumarli et al. (2024) presented results based on genomic RADseq data indicating that populations formerly included in S. ater from most of the Baja California peninsula are potentially a different species from those in the United States and Sonora (and northeastern Baja California), Mexico, although that finding does not affect the name of the species covered in this list (Nicholson 2025).

Fairly common in many areas in a restricted range in the deserts of southwestern North America; little information is available on populations and trends, but apparently secure rangewide; threatened by collecting in some isolated areas, but probably not very threatened rangewide.

This lizard ranges from southern Nevada, southern Utah, southeastern California, and western Arizona south to southern Baja California and west-central Sonora, Mexico; in Baja California, most of the distribution is away from the west coast (Hollingsworth 1998, Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003).

This species is represented by a large number of viable occurrences throughout the majority of the range in California, Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico.

Chuckwall populations are locally threatened by excessive collecting and habitat degradation (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 1997). Collectors not only remove individuals from the habitat may thus may reduce population viability but also often cause microhabitat destruction when tools are used move or break rocks and exfoliations to expose the reptiles (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish 1997). Some populations have been hard hit by collectors. For example, the easily accessible South Mountain population, near Phoenix, Arizona, has a unique color pattern and is highly desired by the pet trade; exploitation of this population and destruction of its habitat are on the rise (Gergus et al. 1998). Historical populations in the Glen Canyon area of Utah have been reduced or eliminated by the damming of the Colorado River. Habitat degradation due to grazing activities of goats, sheep, and burros is also a potential threat.

Overall, however, the species appears to be moderately to not very threatened across most of its range. The species is regarded as not very threatened in Sonora, Mexico (Andres Villareal Lazarraga, pers. comm., 1998).