Round-tailed Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma modestum

This species is less spiny overall than other species of horned lizard; it often looks like a partially buried stone if it remains motionless. It is a great example of a species that adapts to different environments: its color usually is an exact match of the soil where it lives. Camouflage is especially important to horned lizards because they are among the slowest runners of all lizards.

Look For : A tan to gray horned lizard with 4 short horns of equal length on its crown and a round tail; no pointed scales along sides.

Length : 3-4".

Habitat : Gravel, or rocky deserts, brushlands, and grasslands.

Range : Southwestern U.S.