Mexican Plateau horned lizard

The Mexican Plateau horned lizard^[4] (Phrynosoma orbiculare) is a species of horned lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae.^[2] The species, also known commonly as the Chihuahua Desert horned lizard,^[5] is endemic to Mexico. There are five recognized subspecies. The specific epithet, orbiculare, comes from the Latin adjective orbis, meaning "circular".^[4]

Mexican Plateau horned lizard
P. orbiculare in Veracruz, Mexico, showing blood squirted from eye as defensive behavior.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Phrynosoma
Species:	P. orbiculare
Binomial name
Phrynosoma orbiculare (Linnaeus, 1758)[2][3]
Synonyms[2]
Lacerta orbicularis Linnaeus, 1758 Agama orbicularis — Daudin, 1805 Phrynosoma orbiculare — Wiegmann, 1828 Tapaya orbicularis longicaudatus Dugès, 1888 Phrynosoma orbiculare — H.M. Smith & Taylor, 1950

Description

Mountain horned lizard (Phrynosoma orbiculare orientale), Municipality of Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, Mexico (24 September 2009)

P. orbiculare has a characteristic single row of lateral abdominal fringe scales. This "horned toad" also has two short occipital horns.^[5]

Geographic range

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.^[5]

Habitat

P. orbiculare occurs in a wide range of primary habitats (dry scrubland, pine-oak forest, oak forest, juniper forest) and secondary habitats (agricultural land, and agave and Opuntia fields).^[1]

Subspecies

Five subspecies of P. orbiculare are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[2]

• 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 authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phrynosoma.

Reproduction

P. orbicularis is viviparous.^[2]

Etymology

The subspecific name, cortezii, is in honor of Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés.^[6]

The subspecific name, dugesii, is in honor of French-born Mexican naturalist Alfredo Dugès, who is considered the "father" of Mexican herpetology.^[6]