Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandezi [= doiiglasi]) 



Description: The Short-homed lizard has a broad, somewhat flattened body and relatively short 

 limbs and tail. It is generally tan to gray with dark and light spots and blotches; the belly is 

 white. There is a distinctive line of pointed scales along each side, and the head has short, 

 blunt "horns" pointing backward. Adult lizards range from 1.7 - 5.5" in length. 

 Young. Young are live-bom and resemble small adults. 



Similar species: None. Only one other lizard species in the region. 



Habitat and Habits: Short-homed lizards are found in a variety of habitats, including dry open 

 forests, grasslands, and sagebmsh; the soil is usually loose or sandy. In firmer soil situations, 

 it may use the burrows of other animals. It is active during the day, typically with the peak of 

 activity in mid-late morning. A Short-homed Lizard may squirt blood from its eyes when 

 disturbed. Little is known about reproduction in this part of the range; young are born live in 

 late summer (Baxter and Stone 1985). A small juvenile was encountered on 1 1 September 

 1995 in Carbon County (Appendix 4). Ants are the primary food of the species. 



Surveying: They may be surveyed by slowly walking through appropriate habitat and watching 

 carefully for them, looking especially near ant mounds. This technique has low success with 

 Short-homed Lizards however. As with many lizards and snakes, they are easily missed. 

 Carefully documented incidental observations may provide the best clues to their distribution. 

 They may be also taken in pitfall or funnel traps in combination with drift fences. A juvenile 

 was captured inadvertently in 1995 in a pitfall trap set for shrews (pers. observ.). 



Status: The Short-homed Lizard was a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Category 2 

 Candidate species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). It is widely distributed, but 

 apparently localized in eastem Montana. Although not encountered during the 1998 surveys, 

 the species is fairly common on the south side of the Pryor Mountains in Carbon County, and 

 there was one 1 998 record reported from that area. There are several other areas in 

 southeastem Montana where records are clustered. Although there are no records for 

 Montana counties bordering the Dakotas, there are several records from adjacent counties in 

 North Dakota (Wheeler and Wheeler 1966), and it was reported as common in Harding 

 County, South Dakota (Visher 1914), where it is still considered locally common (Stukel and 

 Backland 1997). This species may be vulnerable to collecting for the pet trade and 

 agricultural conversion of native habitats. It should be watched for in open pine, prairie, or 

 shrub-steppe habitat with loose or sandy soils, all sightings should be documented. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S4. 



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