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Coast Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma blainvillii

Photo by Jellis
Published on Project Noah
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37.9081, -121.952

Field Notes

Description:

Sandy colored with darker colored bands behind neck starting with two blotches. Body is wide and flat looking with spikes along the sides of the body and tail. Tail is short. Head is armored with spikes along side of face and back of head.

Habitat:

Desert and chaparral

Notes:

Spotted this partially buried under loose dirt along a trail at the foothills of Mt. Diablo.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
Leuba Ridgway
Great series, Jellis. I hope he/she will continue to enjoy a secure future !
Jellis
The link doesn't answer the question. Point is we are not talking about all Horned lizards, but this species. In some areas some species maybe threatened but this species is not here.
HemaShah
beautiful pictures of this herp.
HemaShah
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_horned_lizards_endangered
Jellis
Yes in 1981. Did you click the updated status?: The following status listings come from the Special Animals List which is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This species was formerly listed separately by two former subspecies on the Special Animals List, but it is now listed as only one species. Organization -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Status Listing -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) None California Endangered Species Act (CESA) None California Department of Fish and Wildlife DFG:SSC California Species of Special Concern Bureau of Land Management BLM:S Sensitive USDA Forest Service USFS:S Sensitive Natureserve Global Conservation Status Ranks G4G5S3S4 Apparently Secure World Conservation Union - IUCN Red List LC Least Concern
CindyBinghamKeiser
Emma is right. According to California Herps, "Threatened and eliminated from many areas due to habitat destruction from human development and agriculture, and the spread of nonnative ants, such as Argentine Ants (ridomyrmex humilis) which displace the native ant food source. Before commercial collecting was banned in 1981, this lizard was extensively exploited by the pet trade and the curio trade. (At the turn of the century, horned lizards were coated with varnish and sold to tourists.)"
Jellis
not as far as I know. They are pretty common in Mt Diablo, just you don't always see them.
HemaShah
how did I miss this one?Threatened species.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Flora and Fauna of California Wilderness
Mission
Wilderness Friends of California
Photographed
PublishedMay 27, 2013

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