It was previously considered to be a widely divergent species with over 6 subspecies ranging from Baja California north to California's Sacramento Valley. Bayard H. Brattstrom of California State University, Fullerton's Department of Biology claims that there are no subspecies of the coast horned lizard. Studying specimens from the San Diego Natural History Museum, he could not match a given lizard to a particular claimed subspecies — for example, Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii or Phrynosoma coronatum frontale — based on characteristics the subspecies were said to have, such as size of frontal scales. Instead, the classification of the assumed subspecies seemed to be based on the site at which it was collected. Thus, Brattstrom concluded that the species has much variation but no valid subspecies.[5]
However, a 2009 study by Leaché et al. found sufficient genetic divergence (based on mtDNA) between clades to split P. coronatum into three species: P. blainvillii, P. cerroense, and P. coronatum sensu stricto. This splitting leaves P. coronatum restricted to Baja California Sur. However, in 2021 Gunther Köhler again reclassified blainvillii and cerroense as subspecies of P. coronatum, although the Reptile Database has not followed this taxonomic change.[6][7]
Description
The coast horned lizard appears rough and spiky but is actually smooth-skinned, although it has sharp spikes along its sides, back and head. It is a large species, and can reach 10 cm (4 inches) excluding the tail. It is less rounded than other horned lizards. It has two large dark blotches behind its head, followed by three broad bands on its body, with several smaller bands along the tail. Its colour can be various shades of brown, with cream 'accents' around the blotches and the outer fringe of its scales.
Variations
There are four different variations of Coast Horned Lizards that share several similarities but vary in morphological characters. However, another variation, Phrynosoma wigginsi, cannot be categorized into the four other variations. This species lives in the eastern side of the Sierra de Guadalupe and Sierra de La Giganta in the central Gulf Coast region of the peninsula of Baja California.[8]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phrynosoma coronatum.
^Hollingsworth, B. & Hammerson, G.A. (2007). Phrynosoma coronatum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64073A12741647.en
^Hylton, Brodie "Ecology and Species Comparisons of the Short-Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi) and the Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos)". Retrieved 2010-08-12.
^Brattstrom, Bayard H. (1997). "Status of the Subspecies of the Coast Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma coronatum". Journal of Herpetology. 31 (3): 434–436. doi:10.2307/1565675. ISSN 0022-1511. JSTOR 1565675.
^Leaché, Adam D.; Koo, Michelle S.; Spencer, Carol L.; Papenfuss, Theodore J.; Fisher, Robert N.; McGuire, Jimmy A. (2009-07-28). "Quantifying ecological, morphological, and genetic variation to delimit species in the coast horned lizard species complex (Phrynosoma)". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (30): 12418–12423. doi:10.1073/pnas.0906380106. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC2716385. PMID 19625623.
^Köhler, Gunther (2021-05-07). "Taxonomy of Horned Lizards, Genus Phrynosoma (Squamata, Phrynosomatidae)". Taxonomy. 1 (2): 83–115. doi:10.3390/taxonomy1020009. ISSN 2673-6500.
^Montanucci, Richard R. (2004). "Geographic Variation in Phrynosoma coronatum (Lacertilia, Phrynosomatidae): Further Evidence for a Peninsular Archipelago". Herpetologica. 60 (1): 117–139. doi:10.1655/02-100. ISSN 0018-0831. JSTOR 3893577. S2CID 86387585.
April 16, 2023
coast, horned, lizard, coast, horned, lizard, phrynosoma, coronatum, species, phrynosomatid, lizard, endemic, baja, california, mexico, defense, lizard, shoot, high, pressure, streams, blood, eyes, threatened, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, cites, a. The coast horned lizard Phrynosoma coronatum is a species of phrynosomatid lizard endemic to Baja California Sur in Mexico As a defense the lizard can shoot high pressure streams of blood out of its eyes if threatened 4 Coast horned lizardConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder IguaniaFamily PhrynosomatidaeGenus PhrynosomaSpecies P coronatumBinomial namePhrynosoma coronatum Blainville 1835 3 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Variations 4 ReferencesTaxonomy EditIt was previously considered to be a widely divergent species with over 6 subspecies ranging from Baja California north to California s Sacramento Valley Bayard H Brattstrom of California State University Fullerton s Department of Biology claims that there are no subspecies of the coast horned lizard Studying specimens from the San Diego Natural History Museum he could not match a given lizard to a particular claimed subspecies for example Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillii or Phrynosoma coronatum frontale based on characteristics the subspecies were said to have such as size of frontal scales Instead the classification of the assumed subspecies seemed to be based on the site at which it was collected Thus Brattstrom concluded that the species has much variation but no valid subspecies 5 However a 2009 study by Leache et al found sufficient genetic divergence based on mtDNA between clades to split P coronatum into three species P blainvillii P cerroense and P coronatum sensu stricto This splitting leaves P coronatum restricted to Baja California Sur However in 2021 Gunther Kohler again reclassified blainvillii and cerroense as subspecies of P coronatum although the Reptile Database has not followed this taxonomic change 6 7 Description EditThe coast horned lizard appears rough and spiky but is actually smooth skinned although it has sharp spikes along its sides back and head It is a large species and can reach 10 cm 4 inches excluding the tail It is less rounded than other horned lizards It has two large dark blotches behind its head followed by three broad bands on its body with several smaller bands along the tail Its colour can be various shades of brown with cream accents around the blotches and the outer fringe of its scales Variations EditThere are four different variations of Coast Horned Lizards that share several similarities but vary in morphological characters However another variation Phrynosoma wigginsi cannot be categorized into the four other variations This species lives in the eastern side of the Sierra de Guadalupe and Sierra de La Giganta in the central Gulf Coast region of the peninsula of Baja California 8 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phrynosoma coronatum Hollingsworth B amp Hammerson G A 2007 Phrynosoma coronatum The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2007 RLTS T64073A12741647 en Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 The Reptile Database www reptile database org Hylton Brodie Ecology and Species Comparisons of the Short Horned Lizard Phrynosoma douglassi and the Desert Horned Lizard Phrynosoma platyrhinos Retrieved 2010 08 12 Brattstrom Bayard H 1997 Status of the Subspecies of the Coast Horned Lizard Phrynosoma coronatum Journal of Herpetology 31 3 434 436 doi 10 2307 1565675 ISSN 0022 1511 JSTOR 1565675 Leache Adam D Koo Michelle S Spencer Carol L Papenfuss Theodore J Fisher Robert N McGuire Jimmy A 2009 07 28 Quantifying ecological morphological and genetic variation to delimit species in the coast horned lizard species complex Phrynosoma Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 30 12418 12423 doi 10 1073 pnas 0906380106 ISSN 0027 8424 PMC 2716385 PMID 19625623 Kohler Gunther 2021 05 07 Taxonomy of Horned Lizards Genus Phrynosoma Squamata Phrynosomatidae Taxonomy 1 2 83 115 doi 10 3390 taxonomy1020009 ISSN 2673 6500 Montanucci Richard R 2004 Geographic Variation in Phrynosoma coronatum Lacertilia Phrynosomatidae Further Evidence for a Peninsular Archipelago Herpetologica 60 1 117 139 doi 10 1655 02 100 ISSN 0018 0831 JSTOR 3893577 S2CID 86387585 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coast horned lizard amp oldid 1130268670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
