Facts on Long Spined Horned Lizards

The long spined horned lizard, also known as the giant horned lizard with the scientific name Phyrnosoma asio, is the largest of the horned lizard species and originates in regions in Mexico with moderate temperatures. Horned lizards are characterized by bodies that collect heat, exhibit effective camouflage protection and have the ability to shoot blood from their eyes to help fend off predators, according to Phrynosoma.org.

  1. Habitation and Diet

    • Long spined horned lizards live in semitropical and tropical regions in Mexico, usually on the Pacific Coast. They can also be found in certain areas of Guatemala.They are adapted to live in areas that experience severe weather fluctuations such as heavy rains followed by long periods of drought. Their diet includes grasshoppers, flies, spiders, crickets, termites, beetles and ants, which make up a significant part of their daily intake. The lizards generally prefer to hunt insects one by one rather than preying on a large group.

    Physical Characteristics

    • Long spined horned lizards are usually about 8 inches long, and their snout to vent length is from 5 to 6 1/4 inches. They have long bodies that widen in the middle and a flat, rounded tail. Their heads feature two rows of dorsal spines that continue down the edges of their back and tail. They also have two rows of abdominal fringes on each side of their body, with horns above their eyes and on the back of their head. General color is brown and gray with an underside that is white or yellow.

    Reproduction

    • Mating season for long spined horned lizards is in May and June. Males will lick their tongues, wag their tails and bob their heads when ready to mate. The physical act of copulation takes from two to four minutes, and the number of offspring can vary from 10 to 28. The female gestates for 60 to 70 days and usually gives birth from September to November.

    Activity and Behavior

    • The long spined horned lizard is most often active in the morning and in the late afternoon, especially if the temperature is hot and dry. During sustained periods of heat, the lizard will stay in a cool area such as the shade of a plant or under a rock. In dry or droughtlike conditions that occur from November to April, it becomes inactive for most of the day. If it is being stalked by a predator, the lizard tends to stay still, relying on its camouflage technique and armored body for protection.