Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Texas horned lizard (female)

Phrynosoma cornutum

Description:

This lizard has a flat body. The two central horns on the back of the head are longer than the two lateral horns. There are two rows of fringe scales (small, spiny scales along each lateral side of the body). The background color varies with the soil color, but is usually tan, reddish, yellow, gray, or brown with a light colored stripe down the midline. The ear openings are readily visible. (information from "A Field Guide to Oklahoma's Amphibians and Reptiles")

Habitat:

Open prairie / cattle pastures

Notes:

This was a very special find for me and I saved it an extra day so it could be my 400th spotting on Project Noah. I have lived in Oklahoma most of my life, and the Texas horned lizard used to be plentiful here. As is the case in most of its range, its numbers are in serious decline. The only place I have consistently seen this species is out in the panhandle where people haven't taken over. I have lived in my current location for just over 5 years now and this is the first horned lizard I have found. She was sitting on the gravel road and had crawled out after I had passed by originally. When I double-backed to return home from searching for birds and other wildlife, she was lying on the road, basking in the morning sun. You may have noticed that her tail is short, and that appears to be from an old injury. Perhaps a predator got hold of her and she managed to get away. Regardless, she seemed healthy and spry and I'm thankful that we crossed paths that morning. She has certainly moved into my Spotting of the Year to date. :-)

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

3 Comments

Mandy Hollman
Mandy Hollman 11 years ago

Aw, she likes you! Congrats on your special 400th spotting, and thanks for sharing this interesting info.

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 11 years ago

This spotting is really messing with me and images for some reason. I'm trying to get it resolved. Sorry!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

Could not see picture 1. Picture 4 is very cute.

Aaron_G
Spotted by
Aaron_G

Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA

Spotted on May 25, 2012
Submitted on May 27, 2012

Related Spottings

Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned Lizard Horned lizard

Nearby Spottings

Great Plains skink Soil centipede Bradford pear White-tailed deer
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team