A large, stout-bodied lizard with a short, fat tail. The scales on the upper surfaces are hard, rounded, and bead-like. The tongue is dark and forked. Markings consist of a pattern of black bands or reticulations on a peach, orange, yellow, or pink background. There are usually 3 to 5 black bands on the tail. The snout and sides of face are black. Animals from the northwestern part of Arizona are usually banded. Animals from the south-central and southeastern part of Arizona usually have a reticulated or mottled pattern. Young from all parts of the state are banded.

A medium-sized, exceptionally flat and wide lizard with two long, horn-like scales projecting from the back of the head. Smaller horn-like scales protrude from the sides of the head and jaw. Several pointed, projecting scales are scattered across the back. There are large, keeled, spiny scales on the limbs, tail, and sides of throat. Each lower side of the body is edged with two fringes of enlarged, pointed scales. Each side of the tail is edged with a single fringe of enlarged, pointed scales. Base coloration is usually orange-brown, yellow brown, or gray. A distinct, crisp-edged, white or cream colored stripe runs down the middle of the back extending from the neck onto the base of the tail. Two or three wide, dark lines radiate from each eye distinguishing this lizard from all other horned lizards in Arizona. The back is marked with dark brown, circular blotches and there are two large, dark brown blotches on the neck. The rear edge of each neck and body blotch is outlined with a wide yellow-green, yellow, or cream colored line. The underside is plain white or cream.

A medium-sized, exceptionally flat and wide lizard. Thick, spike-like scales project from the back of the head. The two central head spikes (occipital horns) project up and back, and are noticeably longer than the other spikes. The bases of the occipital horns are not in contact with one another. Several isolated, pointed scales project from the back. Each lower side of the body is edged with one or two fringes of enlarged, pointed scales. A row of enlarged, pointed scales projects from each side of the throat. Base coloration is tan, gray, or brown and usually matches the soil on which the lizard lives. The lower edges of the body are often infused with salmon, peach, or orange. A pair of large dark blotches marks the neck and the back is often adorned with paired dark blotches. The rear of edge of each body blotch is often outlined with white or cream. The venter is often marked with sparse dark flecks which are more dense and prominent on the anterior venter and throat. In southern Arizona, the similar looking Desert Horned Lizard often has extensive dark flecking on the entire venter and its occipital horns point nearly straight back (not UP and back). Goode's Horned Lizard lacks a dark dorsal stripe distinguishing it from the similar Flat-tailed Horned Lizard. The bases of the occipital horns of the similar looking Regal Horned Lizard contact one another.

A medium-sized, exceptionally flat and wide lizard with short, stubby, horn-like scales projecting from the back of the head. A wide gap separates the bases of the two central horns. Several isolated, pointed scales project from the back. Each lower side of the body is edged with a single fringe of enlarged, pointed scales. Base coloration is tan, yellow-brown, orange-brown, reddish brown, or gray and usually matches the soil on which the animal lives. There are two large, dark blotches on the neck. The back is usually marked with a series of dark, irregular blotches or crossbars. The underside, particularly the chin, is often mottled with gray and the throat and chest may have tints of yellow-orange or reddish orange. The broad gap separating the two central horns of this lizard distinguishes it from other horned lizards in Arizona.

A small, exceptionally flat and wide lizard with four widely separated, short, spike-like scales projecting from the back of the head. There are a few sporadic, pointed, projecting scales on the back. The tail is thin (for a horned lizard) and round in cross-section. This lizard's lack of a distinct fringe of enlarged, pointed scales on the lower edge of the body distinguishes it from all other Arizona horned lizards. Base coloration can be gray, pinkish-gray, tan, blue-gray, or yellow brown and can change to more closely match the soil and to aid thermoregulation. There are dark bands on the tail and dark, soft-edged, shadow-like blotches on the neck and lower sides of the body. The underside is plain white or yellow.

A medium-sized, exceptionally flat and wide lizard. Thick, spike-like scales project from the back of the head. The two central head spikes (occipital horns) usually project nearly straight back (not back and up) and are noticeably longer than the other spikes. The bases of the occipital horns are not in contact with one another. Several isolated, pointed scales project from the back. Each lower side of the body is edged with a single fringe of enlarged, pointed scales. A row of enlarged, pointed scales projects from each side of the throat. Base coloration is tan, gray, or brown and usually matches the soil on which the lizard lives. The lower edges of the body are often infused with salmon, peach, or orange coloration. A pair of large dark blotches marks the neck and the back is often adorned with paired dark linear blotches or wavy bars. The rear of edge of each body blotch is often outlined with white or cream. In southern Arizona specimens the underside is often heavily flecked with black. In northern Arizona specimens black ventral-flecking, when present, is usually restricted to the posterior venter. The similar looking Goode's Horned Lizard has sparse dark flecking that is usually restricted to the anterior venter and throat and its occipital horns project UP and back. The Desert Horned Lizard's single fringe of scales on each lower side of the body and lack of a dark dorsal stripe distinguishes it from the similar Flat-tailed Horned Lizard. The bases of the occipital horns of the similar looking Regal Horned Lizard contact one another.

A small, exceptionally flat and wide lizard with a long (for a horned lizard) broad, flat tail and a dark stripe running down the middle of the back. Six long, horn-like scales project from the back of the head. The two central horns are noticeably longer than the others. Smaller pointed scales protrude from the sides of the jaw. Several isolated, pointed, scales project from the back. Each lower side of the body is edged with two fringes of enlarged, pointed scales. There are no external ear openings. Base coloration is tan, orange-brown, or reddish brown and usually matches the sand on which the lizard lives. The back is marked with rows of dark gray-brown, soft-edged, circular blotches. The underside is plain and pale. Its dark dorsal stripe distinguishes this lizard from all other horned lizards in Arizona.

A small, shiny lizard with a thick neck, a small head, and small limbs. Coloration is copper, olive, or golden brown and the tail is bright blue. A wide, dark brown stripe runs along each side of the body extending from the eye to the hind limbs. This stripe is often bordered on its upper edge by a thin pale stripe. Many specimens, particularly juveniles and young adults, have pale lines that form a Y shape on top of the head. Adult males occasionally develop a reddish tint on the lips. The scales are large, rounded, smooth, and very shiny. This is the only skink in Arizona that retains its blue tail coloration into adulthood.

A medium to large, shiny lizard with a long, thick tail (when not regenerated), a stout body, and short limbs. Coloration is plain tan, cream, gray-brown, or olive. Some adults have orange-red coloration on the head. Young are dark chocolate brown with a pink tail and four light stripes that extend from the snout to the base of the tail. The scales are large, rounded, smooth, and very shiny. Its lack of dark markings distinguish this lizard from the similar looking Great Plains Skink.