Mexican Plateau horned lizard | |
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P. orbiculare in Veracruz, Mexico, showing blood squirted from eye as defensive behavior. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Phrynosomatidae |
Genus: | Phrynosoma |
Species: | P. orbiculare
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Binomial name | |
Phrynosoma orbiculare | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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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]
P. orbiculare has a characteristic single row of lateral abdominal fringe scales. This "horned toad" also has two short occipital horns.[5]
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]
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]
Five subspecies of P. orbiculare are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Phrynosoma.
P. orbicularis is viviparous.[2]
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]