What lizards live in the Atacama Desert?

Answer 1

Some of the plants that live in the Atacama Desert are salt bushes, buckwheat bushes, black bushes, rice grass, little leaf horse brush, black sage, and chrysothamnus. However, these plants only survive in areas where there is, at least, seasonal surface water or oasis. In some areas the only plants to be seen are a few lichens and cacti that survive from water vapor brought in by dense fog from the Pacific Ocean.

Answer 2

I do not believe there has been an extensive study of the lizards of the Atacama Desert. It is such a vast area with many areas difficult to access that few scientists have ventured into the desert to really study the lizards that survive there. The few lizards that do survive there seem to be primarily iguanidssuch as the Microlophus atacamensis or Atacama Lava Lizard which is fairly common in the desert near the coastline. For images of the species, click here.