I'm going through pics from both biodiversity survey expeditions in Sonora, MX last November. This is a Ditmars' horned lizard, aka rock horned lizard, Phrynosoma ditmarsi from Sierra La Purica. It was the second one I've ever found and likely a new size record for the species.

They're sooo cool. Amazingly docile. This one is sitting on a cooler where it was weighed, measured and photographed before I took it back where I found it. They're easy to catch, but really hard to see unless they move, which this one did when I got near it.

#HornyToad #Lizard #herpetology #herps #biodiversity

Can you find the horned lizard?

I used to love this game that AfroHerper played on ExTwitter, so here's my version of it from the recent Mexico biodiversity cataloging expedition.

There is a Ditmars horned lizard ("horny toad") in this photo. It's the one I found and the first of only two found on the trip. It's a juvenile about 3" long.

If you see it, don't spill the beans! I'm hitting the road soon, but will give the answer tomorrow or tonight.

BTW, it's not hidden in the watermark or anything sneaky like that. They are just really hard to spot on the ground until they move.

#herps #lizard #HornedLizard #HornyToad #camouflage #biodiversity

Wait for it!! Phrynosoma solare, a very common horned lizard in the Sonoran Desert. Like most horned lizards they are primarily ant eaters.

Also like most horned lizards, they can squirt blood from their eyes when threatened (known as a "deimatic" or "startle" defense). I'm told by those who study them that they can aim!

This species lays eggs, but some species give birth to live young.

They are hella cool critters!

#HornedLizard #HornyToad #herpetology #CoolShitYouSeeWanderingInTheDesert