Initiation of Escape Behavior by the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Herpetologica ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Cooper ◽  
Wade C. Sherbrooke
Keyword(s):  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard

Integumental water movement and rate of water ingestion during rain harvesting in the Texas horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade Sherbrooke
Keyword(s):  
Capillary Flow ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Flow System ◽  
Water Delivery ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Water Ingestion ◽  
Jaw Opening ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Opening And Closing

AbstractCapture of rainfall on skin surfaces and its transport via capillary channels between scales to the mouth for drinking has been documented in a few agamid (Moloch and Phrynocephalus) and iguanid (Phrynosoma spp.) lizards. Associated behaviors include a postural stance and jaw motions. This experimental study documents that rate of jaw opening and closing cycles is positively correlated with rate of water delivery to lizards' backs and to gain in mass of lizards attributable to drinking. The mean mass of water that can be held by the interscalar, capillary-flow system is correlated with body size, smaller lizards holding a larger percentage of their body mass in the rain-harvesting system. Ingestion mechanisms for water flow from the integumental channels to the mouth surfaces for drinking are discussed, with note being made of the possible roles of a fold of skin at the jaw angle (at the postlabial scales) and tongue actions. Recent hatchlings exhibit rain-harvesting behavior, suggesting its innate nature.

Natural ultraviolet-b exposure of the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) at a North Texas Wildlife Refuge

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 231-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary W. Ferguson ◽  
William H. Gehrmann ◽  
Andrew M. Brinker ◽  
Glenn C. Kroh ◽  
Donald C. Ruthven
Keyword(s):  
Ultraviolet B ◽  
North Texas ◽  
Wildlife Refuge ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard

scholarly journals Moisture harvesting and water transport through specialized micro-structures on the integument of lizards

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 204-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Comanns ◽  
Christian Effertz ◽  
Florian Hischen ◽  
Konrad Staudt ◽  
Wolfgang Böhme ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Film ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Arid Areas ◽  
Air Humidity ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Capillary System ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard ◽  
Superhydrophilic Surface ◽  
Micro Structures

Several lizard species that live in arid areas have developed special abilities to collect water with their bodies' surfaces and to ingest the so collected moisture. This is called rain- or moisture-harvesting. The water can originate from air humidity, fog, dew, rain or even from humid soil. The integument (i.e., the skin plus skin derivatives such as scales) has developed features so that the water spreads and is soaked into a capillary system in between the reptiles' scales. Within this capillary system the water is transported to the mouth where it is ingested. We have investigated three different lizard species which have developed the ability for moisture harvesting independently, viz. the Australian thorny devil (Moloch horridus), the Arabian toadhead agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus) and the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). All three lizards have a honeycomb like micro ornamentation on the outer surface of the scales and a complex capillary system in between the scales. By investigation of individual scales and by producing and characterising polymer replicas of the reptiles' integuments, we found that the honeycomb like structures render the surface superhydrophilic, most likely by holding a water film physically stable. Furthermore, the condensation of air humidity is improved on this surface by about 100% in comparison to unstructured surfaces. This allows the animals to collect moisture with their entire body surface. The collected water is transported into the capillary system. For Phrynosoma cornutum we found the interesting effect that, in contrast to the other two investigated species, the water flow in the capillary system is not uniform but directed to the mouth. Taken together we found that the micro ornamentation yields a superhydrophilic surface, and the semi-tubular capillaries allow for an efficient passive – and for Phrynosoma directed – transport of water.

Latitudinal Variation in Life History Reveals a Reproductive Advantage in the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Copeia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel F. Hughes ◽  
Walter E. Meshaka ◽  
Carl S. Lieb ◽  
Joseph H. K. Pechmann
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Latitudinal Variation ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard

Nesting and Hatchling Behavior of the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela S. Allison ◽  
Joseph C. Cepeda
Keyword(s):  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard

scholarly journals Genetics, morphology and diet of introduced populations of the ant-eating Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Heuring ◽  
Diane Barber ◽  
Nathan Rains ◽  
Devin Erxleben ◽  
Cameron Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Introduced Populations ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard ◽  
Ant Eating

scholarly journals HABITAT UTILIZATION BY THE TEXAS HORNED LIZARD (PHRYNOSOMA CORNUTUM) FROM TWO SITES IN CENTRAL TEXAS

2017 ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Wesley M. Anderson ◽  
David B. Wester ◽  
Christopher J. Salice ◽  
Gad Perry
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
Blue Mountain ◽  
Texas Horned Lizard ◽  
Central Texas ◽  
Vegetation Encroachment

The Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is found in a variety of habitats. Although several studies have been conducted on habitat use by this species, none have been performed in central Texas, a more mesic habitat than most of those previously studied. This area is of special interest because horned lizard populations have been experiencing sharp declines in central Texas over the last approximately 50 years. We collected habitat data at two sites in central Texas, Camp Bowie and Blue Mountain Peak Ranch. Microhabitat data included canopy cover and ground cover from digitized photographs of Daubenmire quadrats; macrohabitat variables included vegetation height and length, cactus height, soil penetrability, woody plant species richness, tree density, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), and density of ant mounds collected along 100-m by 2-m transects. Similar patterns of habitat use were observed between the two sites. At Blue Mountain Peak Ranch, lizards appeared to be located in areas with a diversity of ground cover types, as observed in previous studies. At Camp Bowie, vegetation encroachment limited lizards in some areas to the use of roads and road margins. Implementation of prescribed burns or other vegetation management could create the preferred ground cover mosaic at such sites.

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