Flow Diagram for Identification

Start at left and follow lines/arrows to right while tracking

diverging character choices.

Tail length
normal
No fringe scales No horn notch

Single row
of fringe scales Notch between
short horns

Tail very short

Double row
of fringe scales

20 F L O W D I A G R A M F O R I D E N T I F I C AT I O N
Identifying Horned Lizard
Characteristics Species
Always check Map of Distribution to *Found only in Mexico
see possible species occurring in area See photographs, pp. 2223

Adults small; four horns Roundtail (pl. 17)

of equal size/spacing; Phrynosoma
black spots on vent modestum
Bases of at horns in contact Regal (pl. 21)
with each other; no black Phrynosoma solare
vent spots
Tail not short; ventral Mexican-plateau* (pl. 29)
scales smooth Phrynosoma orbiculare
Horns well developed; Desert (pl. 19)
black spots on vent Phrynosoma platyrhinos
Adult size small; horns Pygmy (pl. 11)
very short; ventral Phrynosoma douglasii
scales smooth
Horns short; ventral Short-horned (pl. 13)
scales smooth Phrynosoma hernandesi
Back of jaw deep; horns very Rock* (pl. 27)
short; ventral scales keeled Phrynosoma ditmarsi
Ventral scales keeled; Short-tail* (pl. 25)
temporal horns separate Phrynosoma
from occipitals braconnieri
Temporal horns fused into Bull* (pl. 31)
bull-like horns; ventral Phrynosoma taurus
scales keeled
Dark line down back; horns Flat-tail (pl. 15)
long/sharp; vent without Phrynosoma mcallii
black spots
White line down back; dark Texas (pl. 7)
lines on face and head Phrynosoma cornutum
Dark bands crossing back; Coast (pl. 9)
bases of occipital horns not Phrynosoma
in contact coronatum
Strong eye spines; middle Giant* (pl. 23)
horns often erect; ventral Phrynosoma asio
scales keeled

F L O W D I A G R A M F O R I D E N T I F I C AT I O N 21
 Photographs to Aid Identification
SPECIES FOUND IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO

Texas Horned Lizard Flat-tail Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum Phrynosoma mcallii

Coast Horned Lizard Roundtail Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma coronatum Phrynosoma modestum

Pygmy Horned Lizard Desert Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma douglasii Phrynosoma platyrhinos

Short-horned Lizard Regal Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma hernandesi Phrynosoma solare

22 P H O T O G R A P H S T O A I D I D E N T I F I C AT I O N
 SPECIES FOUND ONLY IN MEXICO

Giant Horned Lizard Mexican-plateau Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma asio Phrynosoma orbiculare

Short-tail Horned Lizard Bull Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma braconnieri Phrynosoma taurus

Rock Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma ditmarsi

P H O T O G R A P H S T O A I D I D E N T I F I C AT I O N 23
 Map of Distribution

24 MAP OF DISTRIBUTION
Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Coast Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum)

Pygmy Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii)

Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)

Flat-tail Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii)

Roundtail Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum)

Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)

Regal Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma solare)

Giant Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma asio)

Short-tail Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma braconnieri)

Rock Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma ditmarsi)

Mexican-plateau Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma orbiculare)

Bull Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma taurus)

MAP OF DISTRIBUTION 25