Desert Horned Lizard
Desert Horned LizardDesert Horned LizardDesert Horned LizardDesert Horned Lizard

Desert Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Joshua Tree National Park
582 Verified records at Joshua Tree National Park
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to western North America. They are often referred to as "horny toads", although they are not toads, but lizards. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Horned Lizard sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 582 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park

Coast Horned Lizard
LC

Coast Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma blainvillii

10–20% · With luck
Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
NT

Flat-tailed Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma mcallii

5–10% · With luck
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

70–80% · Very likely
Desert Spiny Lizard
LC

Desert Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus magister

50–60% · Likely
Western Fence Lizard
LC Endemic

Western Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus occidentalis

30–40% · Possible
Zebra-tailed Lizard
LC

Zebra-tailed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Callisaurus draconoides

30–40% · Possible
Long-tailed Brush Lizard
LC

Long-tailed Brush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Urosaurus graciosus

10–20% · With luck
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
EN Endemic

Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uma inornata

10–20% · With luck
Banded Rock Lizard
LC

Banded Rock Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Petrosaurus mearnsi

5–10% · With luck
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard
LC Endemic

Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uma scoparia

<5% · Rare
Ornate Tree Lizard
LC

Ornate Tree Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Urosaurus ornatus

<5% · Rare
Granite Spiny Lizard
LC

Granite Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus orcutti

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
20–30
Feb
30–40
Mar
40–50
Apr
50–60
May
40–50
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
40–50
Sep
30–40
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
4 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
5 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Desert Horned Lizard in Joshua Tree National Park?

About 37% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Horned Lizard sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 582 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Desert Horned Lizard in Joshua Tree National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Desert Horned Lizard in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.

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