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Texas Horned Lizard
(Phrynosoma cornutum)
Identification: Body wide and flattened; spines at back of head much longer than width at base; two rows of enlarged scales fringing each side of body; dark bars radiate from eye; adults may have yellow tint on chest and sides, in front of vent, and on dorsum; most adults are less than 80 mm (3.1 inches) in snout-vent length, but a few females reach 9.5 cm (3.7 inches); coloration typically cryptic against prevailing soil color.
Mature male: Underside of base of tail with two swellings (from hemipenes); tail length averages longer than that of female.
Hatchling: Head spines initially absent but grow
quickly.
Colorado
Distribution:
Southeastern Colorado, almost
entirely south of the Arkansas River. Fairly common.
Habitat: Plains grassland, particularly
where the are large patches of bare ground (but generally absent from areas that
are barren due to extensive plowing). Buries itself in the soil or seeks cover
in rodent burrows.
Life
History: Females lay eggs in late May,
June, or July. Hatchlings appear in August-September. Harvester ants dominate
the diet.