Reptile · GBIF taxon 5222413
Phrynosoma cornutum
phrynosoma cornutumAlso known as Horny Toad, Horned Toad, Texas Horned Toad, Horned Frog
Texas horned lizards possess a flattened, spiky body perfectly camouflage-patterned for arid soil, along with a crown of sharp horns extending from the head. They specialize in consuming harvester ants, using a sticky tongue to snap up hundreds of individual insects each day. When threatened, they can inflate their bodies to appear larger or even squirt a foul-tasting stream of blood from the corners of their eyes.
ReptileCamouflagedDeserts
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Harvester ants
- Beetles
- Spiders
Predators
- Hawks
- Roadrunners
- Coyotes
ThreatsHabitat loss, invasive fire ants, pesticide use, and road mortality
HabitatsArid and semi-arid grasslands, desert scrub, and sandy prairies
Life span5 to 8 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPhrynosomatidae
- GenusPhrynosoma
- Speciesphrynosoma cornutum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Protected by state law in Texas; observe quietly from a distance without touching or disturbing.
- What to notice
- Look for a broad, flattened body with two prominently enlarged central horns crowning the back of the head.
- Support conservation
- Observe from a respectful distance without handling, capturing, or disturbing the animal or its nest sites.
Responsible observation
- Legal protections: Avoid picking up or holding wild individuals, as they are state-protected in Texas and Oklahoma.
- Observe camouflage: Scan bare, sandy ground carefully during sunny mornings when lizards bask to warm up.
- Maintain distance: Approach slowly to watch natural behaviors like ant foraging without triggering stress responses.
Look-Alike Clinton & Charles Robertson from RAF Lakenheath, UK & San Marcos, TX, USA & UK / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Primary Prey no rights reserved, uploaded by Philipp Hoenle · cc0
Close Relative (c) brettaugust, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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