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Canku Ota
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(Many Paths)
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An Online Newsletter
Celebrating Native America
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June 2015 - Volume 13
Number 6
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Texas Horned Lizard
(Phrynosoma cornutum)
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by Herps of Texas
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Diagnostic
Features:
- Flat, broad lizard.
- Dark lines downward from eyes and across head.
- Pointed snout and short tail.
- Crown of spines on the back of the head, with
the two center ones enlarged resembling horns.
- Row of spines projecting from both sides of
throat.
- Two rows of spiny scales on sides of body.
- Large spines on dorsal surface surrounded
by dark pigment.
- Keeled ventral scales.
Coloration:
- Dorsal ground color varies with environment,
but may be tan or gray with white and red or yellow tones.
- The dorsal pattern consists of dark brown
spots with pale posterior borders behind the head, on body, and
tail on each side of light middorsal line.
Size:
Phyrnosoma cornutum reaches adult lengths
of 6-10.5 cm (2.5-4.25 in).
General Distribution:
In North America, Phyrnosoma cornutum is found
from Kansas to Louisiana through Texas to New Mexico and northern
Mexico.
Behavior:
This diurnal lizard is quick, seeking shelter
among the brush or in animal burrows. The Texas horned lizard
may also cover itself in loose sand. This species is typically
seen on warm days of late spring or summer, particularly in the
first few hours after dawn and the hours just before dusk; hibernation
is from late summer to the following spring. This species of horned
lizard feeds on large ants and may squirt blood from its eyes
under stress.
Blood Shooting
The
Texas Horned Lizard may be small and brown and plump
but it has a way of defending itself that may seem
a little odd. But rather than just tell you this crazy
lizards self defense method just tell me how you would
react in this situation. You walk up to another person
and youre mad at them when suddenly the other
person releases a steady stream of blood that shoots
five feet in front of them right at you. Well I personally
wouldnt hang around and this is exactly the reaction
the Texas Horned Lizards predators take when
the lizard does this. |
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Reproduction:
Breeding occurs in late spring upon emergence
from hibernation. Females lay eggs (20-40) in burrows where they
incubate for 40-50 days.
Habitat:
Phyrnosoma cornutum prefers warm, sandy, arid
environments and is typically found in flat, open areas with little
vegetation.
Conservation Status:
The Texas horned lizard is considered an threatened
species by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is fully
protected by the state.
Range Description:
The range extends from extreme southwestern Missouri and central
Kansas to southeastern Colorado, and south and west throughout
most of Oklahoma and Texas (including coastal barrier islands),
eastern and southern New Mexico, and southeastern Arizona to northeastern
Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango east of Sierra Madre Occidental,
Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, and Zacatecas
(Price 1990). Native eastern limit is uncertain; records for Missouri
and Arkansas have been questioned (now extirpated from Arkansas;
Trauth et al. 2004), and possibly the species is not native to
Louisiana (Price 1990). This species has been introduced and is
established in several areas in the southeastern United States,
including North Carolina), Florida (Jensen 1994), and elsewhere
(see Price 1990 for references).
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