reptile · GBIF taxon 5222413
Texas Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma cornutumAlso known as Horny Toad, Horned Toad, Texas Horned Toad
Texas horned lizards are flat-bodied, spike-covered reptiles famous for their specialized diet of harvester ants and their remarkable ability to squirt blood from their eyes to deter predators. They rely on superb camouflage to blend into sandy soils, puffing up their bodies to appear larger and spikier when threatened. Severe habitat loss and the decline of native ants have caused their numbers to drop across their historic range.
DiurnalCamouflagedSpiky
Licensed referencePatrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM / CC0 · cc0
- diet
- Primarily harvester ants, along with beetles, grasshoppers, and other small insects
- family
- Phrynosomatidae
- threats
- Habitat loss, pesticide use, invasive red imported fire ants, and illegal collection
- life Span
- 5 to 8 years in the wild
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance; do not touch as they are legally protected.
- Look closely at the ground: Their exceptional camouflage makes them nearly invisible until they move across open sandy patches.
- Keep your distance: It is illegal to touch, capture, or possess this threatened species in Texas.
- Watch for defensive displays: If threatened, they may inflate their bodies or hiss to deter perceived danger.