Blainville’s Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvillii
Description
Distribution Range
Museum records taken from following institution: SDNHM Herps.
A single record for the species (SDNHM 25837) exists from Kennet, CA. The specimen is in fact a Blainville’s Horned Lizard (per Jackson Shedd, personal communication) and the stated locale does appear to be where it actually was collected.
However, the specimen collected in Kennet may not have been native. No other records for the species exist in our county, despite extensive field collection in the vicinity of Kennet prior to the completion of the Shasta Dam.
I am unable to find any records for the species in Tehama County. A former record for the species in Siskiyou County was actually a mis-identification. The northern most well documented population I can find is in Butte County. While it is certainly possible the species did formerly exist here as an isolated population, I am personally of the opinion that the Kennet specimen was likely a released pet.
Taxonomy
There are no currently recognized subspecies.
Taxonomic Etymology
Taxonomy Notes
Historically this species was considered to be Phrynosoma coronatum. Some literature identified populations in our part of their range as the California Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum frontale). That subspecies was invalidated and the former San Diego Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillei) was elevated to full species, giving us our current taxonomy.
Additional Information
Images
Unless otherwise noted, all images are of wild specimens in Shasta County.
Please be kind, do not hotlink images and do not use images without permission of the copyright owner.
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Habitat Shots
Unless otherwise noted, these habitat shots are from within Shasta County where this species is known to occur.
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Species of Special Concern
This species is listed as a Species of Special Concern by the State of California Department of Fish & Game.
If you come across this species, please note that it may be a violation of state law to collect it or even touch it. Federal laws may also apply.
If you can, please do the following:
- Accurately record the location where the animal was found. The best way to do this is with a GPS device.
- Photograph the specimen. Take as many photographs as you can without causing too much stress to the animal.
- Take note of the habitat and its condition. Photographs are good for this, but do not always tell the entire story.
- Take note on any possible threats to the population. For example, if it is one of our threatened native frog species, is there an American Bullfrog population in the immediate vicinity? Are you aware of an American Bullfrog population in a nearby aquatic system? What about erosion? Introduced trout?
- Report the sighting to the California Natural Diversity Database.
It takes a little effort to file a report, but your report may help the necessary agencies protect that population. It is difficult for them to protect populations they do not know about or populations they think are extirpated. Even species of special concern that are currently doing well in Shasta County should be reported. When population declines happen, they tend to happen very fast. Reports of specific localities where a species is known to have occured may help researchers determine survey sites if our population of one of these species does crash.
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