California Reptiles & Amphibians
California Horned Lizards - Phrynosoma
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Also known as Horny Toads or Horned Frogs.
Small, wide, flattened, lizards, with spiked scales on a rounded body, and horns surrounding a large head.
Slow-moving, tending to run short distances, then hiding by blending in to the surroundings.
Active in daytime. Typically found in open sandy areas in deserts, chaparral, grassland.
Often seen basking on asphalt roads or low rocks in the morning or afternoon.
Small, wide, flattened, lizards, with spiked scales on a rounded body, and horns surrounding a large head.
Slow-moving, tending to run short distances, then hiding by blending in to the surroundings.
Active in daytime. Typically found in open sandy areas in deserts, chaparral, grassland.
Often seen basking on asphalt roads or low rocks in the morning or afternoon.
Blainville's (Coast) Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma (Anota) coronatum
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma (Anota) mcallii
Found in areas with fine wind-blown sand in the Colorado desert in the southeast corner of the state.
The dark line down the middle of the back will distinguish it from the Desert horned lizard.
Very fast runner. Can be mistaken for other fast lizards such as Fringe-toed lizards.
Distribution of Flat-tailed Horned Lizards in California
Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma (Doliosaurus) platyrhinos
Two subspecies occur in California.
Southern Desert Horned Lizard Northern Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma (Doliosaurus) platyrhinos calidiarum Phrynosoma (Doliosaurus) platyrhinos platyhrinos
Pygmy Short-horned Lizard - Phrynosoma (Tapaja) douglssii
Found only in the far northeast corner of California, typically in forest clearings and sagrebrush deserts.
Distribution of Pigmy Horned Lizards in California
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