Mountain Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma orbiculare
Silhouette: Jose Carlos Arenas-Monroy · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyPhrynosomatidae (Phrynosomatid Lizards)
- GenusPhrynosoma (Horned Lizards)
- SpeciesPhrynosoma orbiculare (Mountain Horned Lizard)
About the Mountain Horned Lizard
The Mexican Plateau horned lizard (Phrynosoma orbiculare) is a species of horned lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species, also known commonly as the Chihuahua Desert horned lizard, is endemic to Mexico. There are five recognized subspecies. The specific epithet, orbiculare, comes from the Latin adjective orbis, meaning "circular".
The subspecific name, cortezii, is in honor of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. The subspecific name, dugesii, is in honor of French-born Mexican naturalist Alfredo Dugès, who is considered the "father" of Mexican herpetology.
P. orbiculare is found only in the high plateau country of central Mexico. Specifically, it is found in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango, Morelos, Nuevo León, Puebla, and Veracruz. Five subspecies of P. orbiculare are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Phrynosoma orbiculare bradti Horowitz, 1955 Phrynosoma orbiculare cortezii (A.H.A. Duméril & Bocourt, 1870) Phrynosoma orbiculare dugesii (A.H.A. Duméril & Bocourt, 1870) Phrynosoma orbiculare orbiculare (Linnaeus, 1758)
Phrynosoma orbiculare orientale Horowitz, 1955 Nota bene: A trinomial... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Mountain Horned Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mountain Horned Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Mountain Horned Lizard sighting in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mountain Horned Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca?
March has the highest sighting rate for Mountain Horned Lizard in Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca in our monthly data.