The specific epithet, braconnieri, is in honor of French naturalist Séraphin Braconnier[3] (1812–1884).

[4] P. braconnieri has a very short tail relative to its body length, the shortest of the horned lizards, or indeed of any lizard, thus its common name.

[5] P. braconnieri inhabits pine-oak woodland and xeric thorn-scrub.

[5] It can also be found in corn fields or other traditional agricultural areas.

[6] The short-tailed horned lizard is found in the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca.