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Phrynosoma solare

Gray, 1845

Regal Horned Lizard

G5Secure Found in 19 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105557
Element CodeARACF12070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyPhrynosomatidae
GenusPhrynosoma
Concept Reference
Reeve, W. L. 1952. Taxonomy and distribution of the horned lizards genus Phrynosoma. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 34:817-960.
Taxonomic Comments
.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-07-15
Change Date1996-10-28
Edition Date2005-07-15
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Range Extent Comments
The range encompasses central and southern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico (Guadalupe Canyon, Hidalgo County; Painter 1993), Sonora, portions of western Chuhuahua, and northern Sinaloa, Mexico; also Isla Tiburon in the Gulf of California (Parker 1974, Degenhardt et al. 1996, Grismer 2002, Stebbins 2003). Stebbins (2003) mapped the range as extending through southern Sinaloa to at least Nayarit, but this appears to be an error. Elevational range extends from sea level to about 4,800 feet (1,460 meters) (Stebbins 2003).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by well over 100 collection sites that represented at least several dozen distinct occurences (e.g., see Parker 1974).
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified. Locally, some populations probably have been reduced or eliminated as a result of urbanization, agricultural development, and other human activities, but the species is unthreatened in most of the range.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This lizard occupies generally level or gently sloping terrain with openly spaced desert vegetation (e.g., creosotebush, mesquite, saguaro), including rocky and gravelly habitats of arid and semiarid plains, hills, canyons, and lower slopes of mountains (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Stebbins 2003). Three females laid eggs in 35-cm-deep holes dug in fine soil within 1 m of shrubs (Van Devender and Howard 1973).

Ecology

Usually not found in the same habitat with other species of horned lizards (Stebbins 1985).

Reproduction

Mates in summer. Eggs laid July-Aug. Clutch size 7-33. In southern Arizona, eggs laid mid-July hatched by late August (Van Devender and Howard 1973).
Terrestrial Habitats
Desert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS4Yes
New MexicoS1Yes
Roadless Areas (19)
Arizona (19)
AreaForestAcres
Black CrossTonto National Forest5,966
BoulderTonto National Forest40,359
Butterfly Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest42,296
Catalina St. Pk. Roadless AreaCoronado National Forest951
Cdo WsaCoronado National Forest1,955
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
Happy ValleyCoronado National Forest7,972
Horse MesaTonto National Forest9,146
Lime CreekTonto National Forest42,568
Lower Romero WSRCoronado National Forest10
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Middle Romero WSRCoronado National Forest60
Oracle RoadlessCoronado National Forest22,365
PinalenoCoronado National Forest130,920
TumacacoriCoronado National Forest44,594
Upper Romero WsrCoronado National Forest150
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
References (17)
  1. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  2. Collins, J. T. 1990. Standard common and current scientific names for North American amphibians and reptiles. 3rd ed. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 19. 41 pp.
  3. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Sixth edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37:1-84. Online with updates at: http://www.ssarherps.org/pages/comm_names/Index.php
  4. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.
  5. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  6. Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.
  7. Grismer, L. L. 2002. Amphibians and reptiles of Baja California including its Pacific islands and islands in the Sea of Cortes. University of California Press, Berkeley. xiii + 399 pp.
  8. Leaché, A.D., and C.W. Linkem. 2015. Phylogenomics of horned lizards (Genus: <i>Phrynosoma</i>) using targeted sequence capture data. Copeia 103(3):586-594.
  9. Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx
  10. Painter, C. W. 1993. Geographic distribution:<i> Phrynosoma solare</i> (regal horned lizard). Herpetological Review 24:155.
  11. Parker, W. S. 1974. <i>Phrynosoma solare</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 162.1-162.2.
  12. Reeder, T. W., and R. R. Montanucci. 2001. Phylogenetic analysis of the horned lizards (Phrynosomatidae: <i>Phrynosoma</i>): evidence from mitochondrial DNA and morphology. Copeia 2001:309-323.
  13. Reeve, W. L. 1952. Taxonomy and distribution of the horned lizards genus <i>Phrynosoma</i>. University of Kansas Science Bulletin 34:817-960.
  14. Stebbins, R. C. 1985a. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts. xiv + 336 pp.
  15. Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  16. Van Devender, T. R., and C. W. Howard. 1973. Notes on natural nests and hatching success in the regal horned lizard (<i>Phrynosoma solare</i>) in southern Arizona. Herpetologica 29:238-239.
  17. Zamudio, K. R., K. B. Jones, and R. H. Ward. 1997. Molecular systematics of short-horned lizards: biogeography and taxonomy of a widespread species complex. Systematic Biology 46:284-305.