Fauna
Reptile

Skull Tree Iguana

Liolaemus occipitalis

Also known as Occipital Sand Lizard, Occipital Tree Iguana

Skull tree iguanas are small, sandy-hued lizards specialized for life along dynamic coastal dunes and sparse beach scrub. Masterful ambush hunters, they partially submerge themselves beneath loose sand or shelter beside low halophytic vegetation to wait for passing insects. When threatened, individuals sprint with remarkable bursts of speed across open sand before diving beneath the surface to disappear from sight.

ReptileCoastalCamouflaged
Skull Tree Iguana reference1 / 2
(c) Diego Dos Anjos Souza, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAnts, Beetles, Spiders
Predators
  • Burrowing Owl
  • Patagonia Green Racer
  • Feral Cat
ThreatsUrban coastal development, sand mining, tourism disturbance, and invasive pine plantations
HabitatsCoastal sand dunes, restinga scrub, and sandy coastal plains
Life span3–6 years
Classification
  1. FamilyLiolaemidae
  2. SpeciesLiolaemus occipitalis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by pale grey-brown dorsal ground color, dark chevron markings, and pale ventral scales in beach sand habitats.
Support conservation
Maintain a respectful observation distance and do not dig into sand dunes or crush stabilizing vegetation.
Responsible observation
  • Scanning the sand: Look for small trackways in soft dune sand leading toward clumps of low vegetation.
  • Gentle approach: Move slowly to avoid triggering their dive-and-bury flight response.
  • Dune preservation: Stick to established walkways to protect fragile nesting and foraging turf.
Related species
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