With A Name Like Horny Toad There Should Be More Of Them

The native horned lizard (mainly driven out of habitats by the invasion of farms, cities andArgentine ants which displaced their favorite food source, harvester ants) has been found to have three distinct population groups. The gist:

❝Aside from the oldest and original species, P. coronatum, found only in southern Baja California, the researchers identified a new species, P. cerroense, in central Baja and a third, P. blainvillii, whose range extends from northern Baja to Northern California. Within the third, wide-ranging species, the study's authors found enough genetic and ecological differences to suggest there are at least three distinct populations of P. blainvillii, each requiring separate management and protection.❞

Why it's important that our native reptiles have a place in the ecosystem is because they are predators. Predators are vital to creating a healthy living space for plants-- they eat bugs that eat plants, and the deeper the food chain in your yard can be, the healthier your plants will be.
[via e! Science News]
[pic via National Geographic]