Comments on: Horned Lizard: Species of the Week http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/ A Writer's Reflections on Nature and Culture Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:07:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Elizabeth Enslin http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 Elizabeth Enslin Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:39:31 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-1104 Thanks for the detailed information, Jim. I've heard we have them in Eastern Oregon and hope to see one some day. They're one of my favorites too. Thanks for the detailed information, Jim. I’ve heard we have them in Eastern Oregon and hope to see one some day. They’re one of my favorites too.

]]> By: Jim In Oregon http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Jim In Oregon Sat, 26 Jun 2010 21:56:25 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-1103 The horned toads( a reptile-lizard0 have always been some of my favorites over my 60 some years watching and caring for wild critters.Had two for pets for several years when I lived on the farm 50+ years ago as a boy.We caught and kept and learned about every critter that was around..including snakes..:) The species you spotted near Prescott is a smaller higher elevation horned lizard. Unlike some of the other larger species that live in hotter desert valleys, it bears it's young alive rather than laying eggs so it can regulate the temp during incubation easier than if they were buried in the sand. Virtually all horned toads have ants as their primary staple-diet and won't survive long in captivity on other bugs, tho they will eat them.Something about the amino acids in ants that is necessary for a lizard who doesn't compete for food with much of anything else on this continent( no anteaters) They need a temperature range of between about 27 to 40.5 degrees C to survive. Temps of just a degree over the max will be fatal if they cannot get cool. They 'thermoregulate' ( maintain-control body temperature0 better than most reptiles by seeking shade, seeking sun, burying( or hibernating in winter) in soft easy-to-dig sandy soil, or ducking into a rodent burrow or cleft in the rocks. So IF you wish to see them, look for ant trails, and mounds or other evidence of ants like the desert harvester ant.Sit and watch..and watch..Be there when the sun starts warming the earth early AM in good habitat. IF the temp is right( usually daybreak to mid-day in summer) they will be found near their food.They are slow( comparatively) but can run if they want for short distances and cover. Like most things in the wild, one needs to slow waaaay down and look to find them..they won't be seen running like many lizards..Their camoflage is about as perfect as one will find in the animal kingdom. Ancient NA folks considered them good critters that brought health and happiness. I have that same feeling when I find them in the wild, doing their small part in this big oircle of life. We have a few here in Oregon, but they are the small P. Douglassii species and found in eastern Oregon in the snady piney-juniper areas. IF one really likes the horned toads and wants one very similar lizard for a good pet, the Australian Bearded Lizard is about as close as one will find in the pet stores.They grow to about 14-15" in length, are pretty docile, and look very much like a giant horny toad.Have the same spikey head, flattened body and short legs.They thrive on about all bugs as well as eating vegetables...so caring for them is simpler in that regard than the American horned lizards. Before one buys one tho, read up on them well and be prepared to properly provide their habitat, food and care. The natural world sure is wonderful..but one has to take time to see and understand it..Regards, Jim in Oregon The horned toads( a reptile-lizard0 have always been some of my favorites over my 60 some years watching and caring for wild critters.Had two for pets for several years when I lived on the farm 50+ years ago as a boy.We caught and kept and learned about every critter that was around..including snakes..:)

The species you spotted near Prescott is a smaller higher elevation horned lizard.
Unlike some of the other larger species that live in hotter desert valleys, it bears it’s young alive rather than laying eggs so it can regulate the temp during incubation easier than if they were buried in the sand.

Virtually all horned toads have ants as their primary staple-diet and won’t survive long in captivity on other bugs, tho they will eat them.Something about the amino acids in ants that is necessary for a lizard who doesn’t compete for food with much of anything else on this continent( no anteaters)

They need a temperature range of between about 27 to 40.5 degrees C to survive.
Temps of just a degree over the max will be fatal if they cannot get cool.
They ‘thermoregulate’ ( maintain-control body temperature0 better than most reptiles by seeking shade, seeking sun, burying( or hibernating in winter) in soft easy-to-dig sandy soil, or ducking into a rodent burrow or cleft in the rocks.

So IF you wish to see them, look for ant trails, and mounds or other evidence of ants like the desert harvester ant.Sit and watch..and watch..Be there when the sun starts warming the earth early AM in good habitat.

IF the temp is right( usually daybreak to mid-day in summer) they will be found near their food.They are slow( comparatively) but can run if they want for short distances and cover.
Like most things in the wild, one needs to slow waaaay down and look to find them..they won’t be seen running like many lizards..Their camoflage is about as perfect as one will find in the animal kingdom.

Ancient NA folks considered them good critters that brought health and happiness.
I have that same feeling when I find them in the wild, doing their small part in this big oircle of life.
We have a few here in Oregon, but they are the small P. Douglassii species and found in eastern Oregon in the snady piney-juniper areas.

IF one really likes the horned toads and wants one very similar lizard for a good pet, the Australian Bearded Lizard is about as close as one will find in the pet stores.They grow to about 14-15″ in length, are pretty docile, and look very much like a giant horny toad.Have the same spikey head, flattened body and short legs.They thrive on about all bugs as well as eating vegetables…so caring for them is simpler in that regard than the American horned lizards.

Before one buys one tho, read up on them well and be prepared to properly provide their habitat, food and care.
The natural world sure is wonderful..but one has to take time to see and understand it..Regards, Jim in Oregon

]]> By: Liz http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-354 Liz Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:37:19 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-354 Kevin - Thanks for the additional information. They're fascinating creatures, aren't they? Kevin – Thanks for the additional information. They’re fascinating creatures, aren’t they?

]]> By: kevin mike http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-353 kevin mike Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:46:23 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-353 The horned lizard's mottled camouflage is its first line of defense, while the large "crown of thorns" on its head make it a tricky meal for most predators. The horned lizard’s mottled camouflage is its first line of defense, while the large “crown of thorns” on its head make it a tricky meal for most predators.

]]> By: Liz http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Liz Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:35:20 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-273 Hi Bob - Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. Hi Bob – Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out.

]]> By: Bob http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Bob Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:01:50 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-272 Hi Liz, Thought you would like to see a picture we took of another Flat-tailed horned lizard. We spotted him on the Pacific Crest trail near Combs Peak http://anzaborrego.net/travel/AnzaBorrego/photoalbums/PictureDetail.aspx?frmPicURLSource=http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7eyzhTSlDgc/ShwT4REGxOI/AAAAAAAADpY/K5MfJq52oUo/s800/IMG_4492.JPG&frmTitle=Reddish+Flat-Tail+Horned+Lizard.+He+blended+in+really+well. Best, Bob Hi Liz,
Thought you would like to see a picture we took of another Flat-tailed horned lizard.
We spotted him on the Pacific Crest trail near Combs Peak

http://anzaborrego.net/travel/AnzaBorrego/photoalbums/PictureDetail.aspx?frmPicURLSource=http://lh4.ggpht.com/_7eyzhTSlDgc/ShwT4REGxOI/AAAAAAAADpY/K5MfJq52oUo/s800/IMG_4492.JPG&frmTitle=Reddish+Flat-Tail+Horned+Lizard.+He+blended+in+really+well.

Best,
Bob

]]> By: Bob http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Bob Fri, 08 May 2009 15:52:30 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-236 Hi again Liz, Not sure if you saw the horned lizard pic on my site. In all the years I have been out there it was the first one I have seen. I think mostly because I have not been looking. It took a hike with my sister to find this one and yes she is the one that spotted it. :-) <a HREF="http://www.anzaborrego.net/Travel/AnzaBorrego/page/Anza-Borrego-Horned-Toad.aspx" rel="nofollow"></a> Hi again Liz,
Not sure if you saw the horned lizard pic on my site.
In all the years I have been out there it was the first one I have seen.
I think mostly because I have not been looking.
It took a hike with my sister to find this one and yes she is the one that spotted it. :-)

]]> By: Gavin http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/2009/04/horned-lizard/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Gavin Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:21:41 +0000 http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/?p=1752#comment-68 What fun, finding a lizard on the trail! What fun, finding a lizard on the trail!

]]>