Mexican Plateau horned lizard

Mexican Plateau horned lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Lacertilia
Family: Phrynosomatidae
Genus: Phrynosoma
Species: P. orbiculare
Binomial name
Phrynosoma orbiculare
(Linnaeus, 1789)[2][3]
Synonyms

Lacerta orbicularis Linnaeus, 1789[2]

The Mexican Plateau horned lizard[4] (Phrynosoma orbiculare) is a species of horned lizard.[2] It is also known as the Chihuahua Desert horned lizard.[5] The specific epithet, orbiculare, comes from the Latin adjective orbis, meaning "circular".[4]

Description

Phrynosoma orbiculare has a characteristic single row of lateral abdominal fringe scales. This "horned toad" also has two short occipital horns.[5]

Mexican Plateau horned lizard

Geographic range

This species is found only in the high plateau country of central Mexico. Specifically, it is found in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Nuevo León. Its range continues southeast through Morelos, Puebla and Veracruz.[5]

Habitat

It occurs in a wide range of primary (dry scrubland, pine-oak forest, oak forest, juniper forest) and secondary habitats (agricultural land, and agave and Opuntia fields).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Mendoza-Quijano, F., Vázquez Díaz, J. & Quintero Díaz, G.E. (2007). "Phrynosoma orbiculare". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 2007: e.T64079A12734405. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64079A12734405.en.
  2. 1 2 3 Phrynosoma orbiculare at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 30 October 2015.
  3. "Phrynosoma orbiculare (Linnaeus, 1789)". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 Sherbrooke, Wade C. (2003). ntroduction to Horned Lizards of North America. University of California Press. p. 61.
  5. 1 2 3 Wendy Hodges (2003). "Phrynosoma orbiculare, Chihuahua Desert Horned Lizard". Digimorph.org. Retrieved 30 October 2015.


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