Greater short-horned lizard its close relative the pygmy short-horned lizard ("Phrynosoma douglasii" ), which has the same basic body type consisting of small pointed scales around the head and back. Until recent mitochondrial DNA evidence, "P. hernandesi" was considered to be the same species as "P. douglasii". They are now considered distinct species with the pygmy short-horned lizard ("P. douglasii" ) occupying the northwest portion of the United States and extreme southern British Columbia. When placed together the two are easily distinguished at full size, the pygmy short-horned lizard being much smaller. "P. hernandesi" is a highly variable species with different geographic populations
Golden toad led bachelors to attack amplectant pairs and form what has been described as a "writhing masses of toad balls". During the 1977 and 1982 seasons, males outnumbered females by over 8 to 1 at breeding pools. Each toad couple produced 200–400 eggs each week for the six-week mating period, with each egg approximately 3 mm in diameter. The eggs of the golden toad, black and tan spheres, were deposited in small pools often no more than one-inch deep. Tadpoles emerged in a matter of days, but required another four or five weeks for metamorphosis. During this period, they were highly