Coast Horned Lizard: Phrynosoma coronatum

Coast Horned Lizards are found in areas of coastal sage scrub and chaparral in the San Dieguito River Park. They are always found on the ground and usually blend into their surroundings in an uncanny way. When harassed, sometimes horned lizards will squirt blood from an eye, a habit which is apparently distasteful to potential predators. Coast Horned Lizards eat tremendous numbers of ants; they comprise about 50% of their diet. The Coast Horned Lizard is a Federal and California Special Concern Species and should never be collected. Loss of habitat and over-collecting in the past have severely reduced their numbers in some parts of their range.

Text and Photo by Robyn Waayers. Robyn has been a resident of San Diego County since 1977, and is a biology instructor at Palomar, Miramar and Southwestern Colleges, and is also a freelance nature photographer. Contact information: rwaayers@aol.com

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