dustdevil's Identifications

Phrynosoma hernandesi "ornatum"
Malheur county, Oregon, USA.

Many different individuals of both sexes and all ages observed across a span of several years. A DOR (dead on road) specimen from this locality has been donated to OSU. Invasive plants, invasive ants and overgrazing on BLM land threaten the status of this horned lizard in Oregon. More so, habitat destruction via currently proposed mining activities will be severely detrimental to Oregon's population of Greater Short-Horned Lizards.

Morphologically described as P. h. spp. ornatum by Montanucci (Montanucci, 2015). However, additional studies focused on mtDNA revealed three distinct clades of P. hernandesi; Northern, Western & Southern. Thus, Greater Short-Horned lizards from this locality are part of the western clade and not a valid subspecies of P. hernandesi (A. Leaché, H. Davis, S. Singhal, et al. 2021).

http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88397.pdf

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.678110/full

Warming itself on a pontoon in shade at about 80 F. Circular bands across its length. Looks to have lighter/paler underside, at least at the head.
Sitting for a while with its head slightly raised. Rolled itself suddenly into the water when approaching within about 10 ft.

Moves fast, seems more intelligent / aware of its surroundings than other insects of this size. Can't climb smooth surfaces like glass very easily. Apparently not common to spot during summer. Tail is at least as long, maybe slightly longer than its body. Very long antennae.