Mexican Plateau horned lizard Mexican Plateau horned lizard The Mexican Plateau horned lizard (Phrynosoma orbiculare) is a species of horned lizard. It is also known as the Chihuahua Desert horned lizard. The specific epithet, "orbiculare", comes from the Latin adjective "orbis", meaning "circular". "Phrynosoma orbiculare" has a characteristic single row of lateral abdominal fringe scales. This "horned toad" also has two short occipital horns. "P. orbiculare" is found only in the high plateau country of central Mexico. Specifically, it is found in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Nuevo León. Its range continues southeast through Morelos, Puebla and Veracruz. "P. orbiculare" occurs in a
California toad California toad The California toad ("Anaxyrus boreas halophilus") is a subspecies of the western toad, along with the boreal toad. The California toad lives throughout the State of California, with the exception of south-eastern desert regions. Like the boreal toad, it feeds on a wide variety of insects and invertebrates. Its diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and mosquitos. The scientific name is "Anaxyrus boreas halophilus". Boreas is from the Greek word "boreas" which means “north wind” or “northern”, "halophilus" from the Greek "halos" meaning “sea” or “salt”, and "philos" meaning “having affinity for”. The California toad is less blotched (reduced