The Distribution and Abundance of the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii)
Turner FB and Medica PA. 1982. The Distribution and Abundance of the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii). Copeia. 1982(4):815-823
The occurrence of flat-tailed lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) was investigated in 458 sections (each 2.59 km2) in Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties, CA. Forty Phrynosoma mcallii were counted for all sections. A direct correlation was made between the relative abundance of the lizards, diversity of perennial plants, and the relative abundance of harvester ants. Harvester ants are the most commonly consumed food of the horned lizards. The original geographic range of the lizard has been diminished and the species is not as abundant in certain parts of its range as in the past. Changes in the flat-tailed horned lizard range are believed to be caused by human activity.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Turner, Frederick; Medica, Philip
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Abundance (Biodiversity), ant density, Benson Dry Lake, Coyote Wells, desert species, Distribution (Biodiversity), East Mesa, harvester ants, Home Range, Observations, Presence (Biodiversity), Scat, Southeastern California, Taxa Links To References, Yuha Basin