July 14, 2005
Mountain Short-Horned Lizards Maintaining.
This Mountain Short-horned Lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi, was seen on McMillan Mesa in June. Typical for "horny toads", it has adapted to match the soil color on the mesa top, making it hard to spot. Horned Lizards require Harvester Ants to survive, although
they don't eat Harvester Ants exclusively (anywhere from 30% to 90+% of their diet). This means that invasive ant species, like Argentine Ants or Fire Ants, not only impact native ants, but their predators as well. Native plants and fungi that depend on the Harvester Ants for soil conditions and cultivation are also impacted, as well as the insects, microbes, and rodents that depend on those plants. When diminished, their habitat is succeptible to invasive species. A long chain of interdependence.
Short Horned Lizards give birth to their young "live" as opposed to laying eggs, as most horny toad species do. The little ones are "good to go" at birth, and the mother does not provide any care.
Short Horned Lizards appear to be maintaining their numbers on the Colorado Plateau, based on anecdotal sightings. Other species of Horned Lizards in Texas and California are losing out to development and invasive ants. In Nevada, they are commercially harvested for use in economically critical objects like plastic paperweights.