[4] The common name "chuckwalla" (or chuckawalla) is derived from the Shoshone word tcaxxwal, or caxwal, the form used by the Cahuilla of southeastern California.

[7] Its specific name is ater, Latin for "black" or "dark" The United States populations of the species were previously known as Sauromalus obesus; although that name is no longer officially recognized, it is still very common in the literature and it remains in many standard natural history references for North America.

[5] In adult males, the head, shoulder, and pelvic regions are black, while the midbody is light tan speckled with brown.

Young chuckwallas have four or five broad bands across their bodies, and three or four on the tail which are lost in adulthood by males, but retained somewhat by females.

[9] Chuckwallas use a combination of color and physical displays, namely "push ups", head-hobbing, and gaping of the mouth to communicate and defend their territory.

[9] Primarily herbivorous, the chuckwalla eats creosote bush flowers, leaves, fruit, and occasionally insects.