Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma

f5.6 @ 1/320s, ISO:1250, Nikon D3S w 500mm


"Horned Lizard," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Horned lizards, also known as horny toads or horntoads, are a genus of North American lizards and the type genus of the subfamily Phrynosomatinae. The common name is a metaphor prompted by their flattened, rounded body and blunt snout. The genus name Phrynosoma means "toad-bodied". In common with large true frogs and toads, horned lizards tend to move sluggishly, making them easy to catch; this may also avoid triggering attacks by predators. They are adapted to arid or semi-arid areas. The spines on the lizard's back and sides are made from modified reptile scales which prevent the water loss through the skin, whereas the horns on the head are true horns (i.e. they have a bony core). Of the 22 species of horned lizards, 15 are native to the United States.
Madera Canyon, Green Valley, Arizona
 
04/28/2018