Desert Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

These lizards can often be seen basking along the roadside in the morning. They hold their bodies high off the soil and angle their flat backs toward the sun. When handled they will try to spike your hand with the horns on the back of their head, but they are totally harmless. The color is highly variable; specimens from dark rocky areas may be completely black, while those found in white sand nearby are likely to be nearly all white.

Look For : A reddish to tan to dark gray horned lizard with a short crown of horns; row of pointed scales along each side of body.

Length : 3-5 1/2".

Habitat : Sandy deserts, washes, roadsides.

Range : Western and southwestern U.S.