At least 10 species make up the genus Acanthosaura, popularly called mountain horned lizards. Reaching about 1 foot in length, and having relatively calm personalities and easy care requirements, these lizards are well-suited for captivity. A mountain horned lizard of either sex makes a fine pet.
Tail Bulges
While some Acanthosaura species exhibit sexual dimorphism with respect to color and pattern, the differences are not well documented and frequently fail to help distinguish males from females. Instead, observe the ventral side of your lizard’s tail; the hemipenes of male mountain horned lizards create two large, obvious bulges at the base of the tail. Additionally, males have broader tail bases than females do.
