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Microlophus atacamensis

Microlophus atacamensis

R. Donoso-Barros
Corredor De Atacama

Family: Tropiduridae
Order: Squamata
Class: Reptilia
Phylum / Division: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

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Description


Microlophus atacamensis, the Atacamen Pacific iguana, is a species of lava lizard that is endemic to Chile.

Behavioral and ecology: Survival characteristics, such as thermoregulation and migration, are purely based on behavior for Microlophus atacamensis. Being an omnivorous creature, it has the choice to eat both plants and animals that inhabit northern Chile. Depending on the specific population of Microlophus atacamensis, it can reside in the most northern region of northern Chile and depend more on algae for its diet instead of Diptera (fruit flies), as they would in most of the southern region of northern Chile. They abundantly occupy a large coastal area, and can be easily sampled

Thermoregulation levels also suggest behavioral patterns since M. atacamensis not only bask in the sun to retain heat, but they also change their body shape or orientate their body plane perpendicular to the sun. Hence proving that M. atacamensis can make behavioral adjustments to increase heating rates.

Source: Wikipedia, article Microlophus atacamensis. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 18/07/2026.





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Species photographs

Count: 1

Foto
Photography ID: 618401
  Adult

Copiapó
Región de Atacama
Chile
01/02/2025
Federico Carlos Izasa


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Species records

Count: 1



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
223484002/01/2025ChileRegión de AtacamaBahía Inglesa, CopiapóFederico Carlos Izasa
Page 1 of 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Microlophus atacamensis – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 15/09/2026.