Coast horned lizard

The coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard which can be found in Baja California Sur. The old classification included all three current species P. blainvillii, P. cerroense, and P. coronatum as a single species (P. coronatum) ranging from Baja California north to California's Sacramento Valley. It was previously considered to be a widely divergent species with over 6 subspecies in their relatively small range but is now classified as three distinct species. As a defense the lizard can shoot high pressure streams of blood out of its eyes if threatened.[3]

Coast horned lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Phrynosoma
Species:
P. coronatum
Binomial name
Phrynosoma coronatum

Description

The coast horned lizard appears rough and spiky but is actually smooth-skinned, although it has sharp spikes along its sides, back and head. It is a large species, and can reach 10 cm (4 inches) excluding the tail. It is less rounded than other horned lizards. It has two large dark blotches behind its head, followed by three broad bands on its body, with several smaller bands along the tail. Its colour can be various shades of brown, with cream 'accents' around the blotches and the outer fringe of its scales.

References
  1. Hollingsworth, B. & Hammerson, G.A. (2007). Phrynosoma coronatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64073A12741647.en
  2. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Hylton, Brodie "Ecology and Species Comparisons of the Short-Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi) and the Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)". Retrieved 2010-08-12.


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