A newly discovered Texas horned lizard could mark an important milestone in conservation efforts, and TCU biology professor Dean Williams shared his expertise in a recent Yahoo News story about the find.
The article explores the discovery of a horned lizard on a Blanco County ranch that may be the first wild-born offspring from the San Antonio Zoo's captive breeding and release program. If confirmed through genetic testing, the discovery would be a promising sign that the threatened species is beginning to establish itself in the wild.
Williams, who leads TCU’s horned lizard research program, explained the challenges facing the iconic Texas reptile.
"The species has pretty much disappeared entirely on the eastern side of the I-35 corridor," Williams said, pointing to habitat loss, urbanization and invasive fire ants as major contributors to the species’ decline.
Williams and his students support conservation efforts through genetic research that helps scientists monitor wild and captive populations, preserve genetic diversity and evaluate the success of reintroduction programs across Texas.