Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been thinking about this, puzzling actually, for a while now. I have noticed that at the end of the season and at the beginning (spring) in solare country you see juveniles first, last and all inbetween. In coronatum country you see them at the end of the season (after the hatch) but not so much in the spring or early summer. I have spent a bit of time in cornutum/modestum country and have seen modestum juveniles early in the season. (I haven't spent much time there late in the season. I have yet to see a single cornutum juvenile anywhere. Does anyone else see this same thing? What's up with the cornutum little ones?
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www.phrynosoma.com

In a recent e-mail to horned lizard society I made the same comment to Wendy, that it seems that all the horned lizards I have caught are mostly mature females with some males, and noit one young. I know they have to be out there, I have actually walked the areas where I have located Texas Horned Lizards on the property and have yet to have found a young even with intensive slow hunting. Yet I had an e-mail last year that up in San Angelo they are so thick in September that one of the guys actually combs his lawn to make sure he's not going to kill some. He said they are thick up there. There apperance seems to be around September. I have never seen a young one hear in Castroville and I would say I have observed no less than 30-40 horned lizards over the last 7 or so years when ever we came out on vacation, or after we moved here. It is not unusual to find them on the dirt roads out here on a hot day usually in the evening, but as always they are usually full adults--so yea I'd like to know where the young are at as well........I will let you know about modestum in Texas as I will be observing modestum in a week or so as they are cllose to my area..........
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

yes, the cornutum little ones are difficult to find in Texas early in the summer or spring as well. they do not appear to venture out as much. adults and larger sub-adults are the most common that I have seen.

in all the years before I kept HL's, but noticed them in the field, I never recall seeing a small juvenile or hatchling! they were all mature. since I started taking an interest in them, noticing more, and keeping them the last few years; I rarely still see young ones...at any time of the year. most of the very young ones I have observed, have been in areas that were being disturbed by construction, demolition, ag. activity, or some other habitat shake up.

I was out in the bush all the time when I lived in the Witchita Falls area...but rarely found any this way, maybe a couple in a summer. but I did construction work for a while up there as well, putting up metal frame buildings in rural areas where there was little other development. at these places I must have found dozens of hatchlings and yearlings. it seemed I almost found at least one at every new job site! someone I have spoken with recently in west Texas, has also indicated that THL hatchlings are frequently noticed in or near stores & gas stations, etc. which border open undeveloped areas. they are moved outside and let go.

Mick
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