Pygmy Short-horned Lizard

The Pygmy Short-horned Lizard is a squat lizard with a flattened body, short legs, and a short tail. Smaller than many other lizard species, the maximum size of a Pigmy Short-horned Lizard is a mere 12 cm from tip of the nose to tip of the tail. It is easily identified by the many spines on its back and side, row of spines between each front and hind leg, and its short, stout horns. The real challenge, however, is to see it at all! Brownish-beige in color, with various dark markings and a pale belly, these little lizards blend in to their desert environment well. Their habit of burrowing into the substrate makes their camouflage extremely effective.