Horned Lizard Life Cycle

The life cycle of the horned lizard is common to many retiles. Mating begins in late April peaking in June and stopping in July. The type of horned lizard determines if they lay eggs or have live births. The Texas Horned Lizard normally lays eggs. If they are laid they are buried in the sand a few weeks after fertilization where they require an additional few weeks for development prior to hatching. The farther north they are the later the eggs are laid. But on average they are laid in late July and early August. The eggs are white and malleable and are approximately one half an inch in diameter. Some species have 10 and others have 30, with an average of about 15. In some species the eggs are retained, and the young are hatched just