Reptile · GBIF taxon 5222451
Blainville's Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma blainvilliiAlso known as San Diego Horned Lizard, Coast Horned Lizard
These flattened, spiky reptiles blend seamlessly into sandy wash bottoms and chaparral clearings across southern California. When cornered by predators, they can inflate their bodies, flatten themselves against the soil, or squirt auto-hemorrhaged blood from the corners of their eyes. Native harvester ants form the vast majority of their diet, making them highly reliant on intact, undisturbed ecosystems.
ReptileCamouflagedDeserts
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Harvester ants
- Beetles
- Spiders
Predators
- Hawks
- Roadrunners
- Snakes
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive Argentine ants, and domestic pets
HabitatsChaparral, coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands, and sandy washes
Life span5 to 8 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPhrynosomatidae
- SpeciesPhrynosoma blainvillii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe from a respectful distance.
- What to notice
- Identified by a flattened spiky body with two distinct large horns at the crown of the head.
- Support conservation
- Observe carefully from several steps away and never capture or relocate wild individuals from the wild.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Scan sandy open paths early in the day when lizards bask to warm up.
- Etiquette: Never handle or harass individuals, as severe stress harms their health.
- Habitat care: Avoid stepping on harvester ant mounds where these lizards forage.
Prey (c) Nash Turley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nash Turley · cc-by
Predator Polinova / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Roberto Daniel Avila, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Roberto Daniel Avila · cc-by
Close Relative Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM / CC0 · cc0
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.