Pygmy short-horned lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pygmy short-horned lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phrynosoma
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| Species: |
douglasii
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The pygmy short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma douglasii) is a small species of horned lizard. It lives in the northwestern United States and used to live in southwestern Canada. Many people call these lizards "horned toads" or "horny toads." But don't let the name fool you! This animal is not a toad at all. It is a reptile, not an amphibian.
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Why It's Called Douglasii
The second part of the lizard's scientific name, douglasii, honors a Scottish botanist named David Douglas. He was a plant scientist who explored North America a long time ago.
What the Pygmy Short-Horned Lizard Looks Like
The pygmy short-horned lizard is often confused with its close relative, the greater short-horned lizard. Both lizards have small, pointed scales on their heads and backs. For a long time, scientists thought they were the same species.
However, new studies using mitochondrial DNA showed they are different. The pygmy short-horned lizard is much smaller when fully grown. It lives in the northwest United States and southern British Columbia. Sadly, it is no longer found in Canada.
This lizard is flat and squat, with short spines on its head. It has a short, blunt nose and short legs. Its body is fringed with one row of pointed scales. The scales on its belly are smooth.
Pygmy short-horned lizards can be gray, yellowish, or reddish-brown. They have two rows of large, dark spots on their backs. When they feel threatened or angry, their colors become much brighter.
What the Pygmy Short-Horned Lizard Eats
The diet of the pygmy short-horned lizard changes as it grows. Baby lizards, called neonates, eat mostly ants. About 89% of their diet is ants.
Young lizards, called yearlings, eat fewer ants, about 60%. Adult lizards eat even fewer ants, around 72% of their diet. This shows that their food choices change as they get older.
Protecting the Pygmy Short-Horned Lizard
The pygmy short-horned lizard is considered a species at risk in Alberta, Canada. This means its population is in danger. Groups like the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) are working to protect it.
