Mexican Plateau horned lizard


The Mexican Plateau horned lizard is a species of horned lizard. It is also known as the Chihuahua Desert horned lizard. The specific epithet, orbiculare, comes from the Latin adjective orbis, meaning "circular".

Description

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

Geographic range

P. orbiculare 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.

Habitat

P. orbiculare occurs in a wide range of primary and secondary habitats.

Subspecies

Five subspecies of P. orbiculare are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phrynosoma.

Etymology

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.