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
Holdridge's toad favor massy stream banks. The forest, wetlands, and/or pasturelands are sufficient enough for the Holdridge’s Toad. Due to the fact that the Holdridge’s toad is reappearing from assumed extinction, research is beginning on this small organism. Revival of past research gives current research scientists direction of what to discover and learn from this toad. From collected past and new research along, as the Holdridge’s is exposed to Costa Rica’s rainforests’ bacteria and fungus, the diet can be inferred. The Holdridge's toads’ diet include a broad range of arthropod invertebrates which includes spiders, larval stages of moths and butterflies (lepidopterans), flies,