The species was first described in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, by Spencer Fullerton Baird and Charles Frédéric Girard, in 1852 as Crotaphytus dorsalis.

[5] Genetic evidence supports Dipsosaurus being the most basal extant member of Iguanidae, diverging during the late Eocene, about 38 million years ago.

[7] They are pale gray-tan to cream in color with a light brown reticulated pattern on their backs and sides.

Their preferred habitat is largely contained within the range of the creosote bush, mainly dry, sandy desert scrubland below 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

They can also be found in rocky streambeds up to 1,000 m. In the southern portion of its range, these lizards lives in areas of arid subtropical scrub and tropical deciduous forest.

[9] Desert iguanas are primarily herbivorous, eating buds, flowers, fruits and leaves of many annual and perennial plants.

[12][13] Predators of these iguanas and their eggs are birds of prey, foxes, rats, long-tailed weasels, and snakes.