Phrynosoma douglasii

This species occurs in the northwestern United States, and formerly in southwestern Canada. It ranges from southern British Columbia (where it is apparently extirpated; Powell and Russell 1998) south to northeastern California, northern Nevada, and southern Idaho (Zamudio et al. 1997, Stebbins 2003); eastern and southern range limits have not been precisely determined; there is an old record from extreme southwestern Montana, where current status is unknown (St. John 2002, Werner et al. 2004). Its elevational range extends from around 300 to 1,830 m (1,000 to 6,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003).

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Absent

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) Southern British Columbia (apparently extirpated; Powell and Russell 1998) south to northeastern California, northern Nevada, and southern Idaho (Zamudio et al. 1997, Stebbins 2003); eastern and southern range limits have not been precisely determined; old record from extreme southwestern Montana, where current status is unknown (St. John 2002, Werner et al. 2004). Elevational range extends from around 300 to 1,830 meters (1,000-6,000 feet) (Stebbins 2003).

Length: 15 cm

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Comments: This lizard ranges from semiarid plains to high mountains: sagebrush, bunchgrass, pinyon-juniper woodland, openly spaced pines (Stebbins 2003). Usually it occurs in open, shrubby, or openly wooded areas with sparse vegetation at ground level. Soil may vary from rocky to sandy. When not active on the surface, the lizards burrow into the soil or occupy rodent burrows.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Comments: Diet consists primarily of ants and other insects.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 - 300

Comments: This species is represented by many occurrences scatttered throughout its historical range.

10,000 - 1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Total adult population size is unknown but surely exceeds 10,000.

Comments: Inactive during cold weather; also avoids extreme heat.

Gives birth to 3-15 young, mainly August to mid-September (Brown et al. 1995). Sexually mature in 2 or more years (Nussbaum et al. 1983).

Year Assessed

Assessor/s

Reviewer/s

Justification

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NX - Presumed Extirpated

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Intrinsic Vulnerability: Moderately vulnerable

Population

Population Trend

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Comments: Extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and population size appear to be relatively stable.

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Degree of Threat: Low

Comments: No major threats have been identified.

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed

Comments: This species occurs in many protected areas.