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Desert Horned Lizard or Flat-tailed Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma platyrhinos or Phrynosoma mcalli

Photo by calewhitworth
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Having trouble with this one. It's either a desert horned lizard or a flat-tailed horned lizard. If you can spot the difference, then please let me know.

Notes:

Perhaps the desert horned lizard, Phrynosoma platyrhinos

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (10)
calewhitworth
Gordon, thanks for your kind comments. This one has given me fits, and I can't find a good resource to call it with certainty. Thanks for your suggestion and help.
Gordon Dietzman
It may simply be one of those animals that one has to have in hand to determine the ID as differences at the species level may be slight. I run into that a lot when working with certain groups of insects, such as damselflies. Still, it's a wonderful find and a beautifully set up photograph; the low angle puts the viewer in the animal's world. Nicely done...
calewhitworth
I added another pic (of another one we say that day) to help with identifying this one.
calewhitworth
Gordon, I totally agree that it is the same lizard in your link; however, I've had trouble ID'ing this one. Here's another link to consider: http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0103+0532 Any help would be appreciated.
Gordon Dietzman
I'd suggest a flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcalli). It is native to the area in which you photographed it. See http://www.anzaborrego.net/Travel/AnzaBorrego/page/Anza-Borrego-Horned-Toad.aspx for another example. Great shot and great eye for spotting it!
Joseph Christopher
WOW you lucky bugga i,ve always wanted to photograph this lizard.. there's a similar one called the thorny devil.
shebebusynow
We called them "horny toads", clearly a misnomer. They eat ants.
MitchRay
Looks like it could be. I'm not up to snuff on Western herps, and I don't have a Western Field Guide with me.
calewhitworth
Could it be the desert horned lizard? Phrynosoma platyrhinos?
MitchRay
Something in Genus Phrynosoma.

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2011 Best Wildlife Photo
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PublishedApril 10, 2011

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