Show ANIMALS OF THE DESERT the desert animals of the southwest are small and are 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 hold bold little horned toad are abundant and in places the variety of rattlesnake tle snake known as sidewinder side winder is found this common name refers to his sidelong motion both in locomotion and attack the rare tiger rattler lives in the rocks in many 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 known as the chuck chuckwalla walia may toe 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 eight to ten inches long is a cornmon common sight united states geological survey |