Show DESERT ANIMALS the desert des ert animals of the southwest ate are small and ar are e not often in sight the rats which live in large colonies in the sandy areas are nocturnal and most of their companions have the same habit various lizards and the bold little hornad toad are abundant and in places the variety of rattlesnakes known as sidewinder is found this common name refers to his sidelong motion both in locomotion and attack the wre tiger rattler lives live s in the rocks in mr many n Y out of the way places the gila monster is reported from the colorado bottoms near needles and even along virgin river in southern utah the larger lizard chown as the chuckwalla may be seen here and there and the indians find him as palatable as chicken the tortoise roams widely over the desert and his empty shell from 8 to 10 inches long is a common sight |