Coast Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii) | Project Noah

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Photo by CindyBinghamKeiser

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

I finally spotted one! "A flat-bodied lizard with a wide oval-shaped body, scattered enlarged pointed scales on the upper body and tail, and a large crown of horns or spines on the head. The two center horns are the longest. The sides of the body have two rows of pointed fringe scales."

Habitat:

Along a chaparral trail about 1800 ft in elevation with low usage. It was a hot day! "Found along the Pacific coast from the Baja California border west of the deserts and the Sierra Nevada, north to the Bay Area, and inland as far north as Shasta Reservoir, and south into Baja California. Ranges up onto the Kern Plateau east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada. The range has been fragmented due to land alteration."

Notes:

Aka Blainville's Horned Lizard

Reference Links:

Phrynosoma blainvillii - Blainville's Horned Lizard (Coast Horned Lizard)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (12)

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CindyBinghamKeiser

Hi Gary, they seem to be decreasing in numbers. I hope you spot another one soon!

CindyBinghamKeiser

Thank you Hema. I agree although I'd add the state bear, too :)

what a cutie! Great find.If you live in Cal,this is on the to see list along with the cougar,kingsnake,quail. Congrats!

CindyBinghamKeiser

Thank you gatorfellows and Luis!

Great spotting Cindy! I love them. In my hike today I saw a little one today after several years.

wonderful find :)

CindyBinghamKeiser

:) Thank you

Awesome! You sure do well with them.

CindyBinghamKeiser

Thanks Fyn! I had my Canon EOS 60D with a EF 100mm IS lens. Love them!

Nice! That's the size I was thinking. Btw, what camera and lens do you use?

CindyBinghamKeiser

I am the worst with sizes! It didn't let me get close at all but if I had to guess, about 4 inches long. It was a lot larger than I had expected.

Lovely! How large?

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