Horned lizard

The horned lizard lives in dry lands.

It has spikes on its body. These spikes help it keep water inside.

When it rains, the lizard catches water. The water moves through tiny paths. It goes right to the lizard's mouth.

This lizard can hide very well. It stays very still to blend in. If a foe comes near, it puffs up. This makes the lizard look much bigger.

Some lizards have a wild trick. They can squirt blood from their eyes! This helps them scare away some animals.

Many of these lizards are in danger. They need special ants for food. We must help keep them safe.

Horned lizards live in dry places in North America.

They have flat bodies and blunt snouts. Some people call them horny toads.

These lizards have many ways to stay safe. They use colors to hide in the dirt. They often stay very still to avoid being seen. If a predator gets close, they puff up. This makes them look much bigger and harder to swallow. Some species can even squirt blood from their eyes. They do this by increasing blood pressure in their heads. The blood tastes bad to dogs and cats.

It can be hard to find water in the desert. Some lizards use rain-harvesting to drink. When rain hits their scales, water moves through tiny paths. This carries the water right to their mouths.

Many horned lizards are in trouble today. Their homes are being lost to new roads and buildings. They also need special ants to eat. Fire ants are a big problem for them. These new ants take over the food that lizards need.

Horned lizards are amazing reptiles found in North America.

They belong to a group called Phrynosoma. This name means "toad-bodied" because of their shapes. These lizards have flat, rounded bodies and blunt snouts. Many people call them horny toads or horntoads. They usually live in very dry, sandy areas.

They often stay very still to hide from danger.

These lizards have clever ways to stay safe. First, they use colors to blend into the ground. If a predator gets too close, they run in short bursts. They might also puff up their bodies to look much larger. This makes them very hard to swallow. Some species can even squirt blood from their eyes. They do this by increasing blood pressure in their heads. This blood tastes bad to dogs and cats.

Finding water in the desert is a hard job. Some species use a way of working called rain-harvesting.

When rain falls on their backs, water moves through tiny channels. This movement is called capillary action. It carries the water straight to the lizard's mouth. This helps them stay hydrated in dry places. Their scales also help prevent water loss through their skin.

There are 21 different species of horned lizards.

Fifteen of these species live in the United States. The Texas horned lizard is the largest and most common. It is even the official state reptile of Texas. In 1967, Texas passed laws to protect these lizards. Other states passed similar laws in the early 1970s. Some species, like the San Diego horned lizard, are protected too.

Today, many horned lizards are facing big problems. Their homes are being lost to new roads and buildings.

They also need to eat special harvester ants. Fire ants are a big threat because they take over. These new ants fight against the native ants lizards eat. Domestic pets like cats and dogs also hunt them. We must learn about them to help them survive.

The horned lizards belong to the genus *Phrynosoma*. This group of North American reptiles includes 21 recognized species. Their common names, like "horny toad," describe their unique bodies. They have flattened, rounded shapes and blunt snouts. The name *Phrynosoma* actually means "toad-bodied."

These lizards are highly adapted to arid or semiarid environments. They often move sluggishly or remain motionless to avoid being seen. Their survival depends on specialized physical traits and clever behaviors.

One remarkable adaptation is a process called rain-harvesting. This behavior helps lizards find water in dry lands. When rain falls on the scales of their backs, water moves toward their mouths. This happens through capillary action, which is the passive transport of liquid through tiny channels.

While this ability varies between species, it is a vital way to stay hydrated. Additionally, their modified scales on their backs and sides help prevent water loss through the skin. Unlike true toads, these lizards lack a urinary bladder.

To survive, horned lizards use several distinct defense mechanisms. Their first line of defense is camouflage to blend into the environment. If a predator approaches, they may run in short bursts and stop suddenly. This behavior is meant to confuse the predator's visual acuity. They can also puff up their bodies to appear larger and more difficult to swallow.

To protect their heads, they can orient their cranial horns straight up or back. If a predator attacks their body, they drive that side into the ground to prevent the predator from getting its jaw underneath.

At least eight specific species can perform a very unusual defense. These species include *P. asio*, *P. cornutum*, and *P. solare*, among others. They can squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of their eyes. They achieve this by restricting blood flow leaving the head. This increases their blood pressure until tiny vessels around the eyelids rupture. This blood tastes foul to canine and feline predators, though it does not affect birds. Scientists once thought glands added chemicals to this blood. Now, research shows the defensive compounds are already in their circulating blood. It is possible their diet of venomous harvester ants provides these chemicals.

History shows that human activity has heavily impacted these populations. In the early to mid-20th century, the pet trade took thousands of lizards from the wild. Most of these lizards died because they could not meet their specialized nutritional needs. They require specific amounts of formic acid from harvester ants to survive.

Because of this, Texas passed protective legislation in 1967. Most other U.S. states followed with similar laws by the early 1970s. However, some species are still sold in Mexican pet markets today.

Today, many species face significant threats of population decline. Habitat fragmentation from roads and real estate development is a major cause. The use of pesticides and the planting of non-native grasses also harm them.

An invasive species, the fire ant (*Solenopsis invicta*), is a serious threat. Fire ants compete with the native ants that horned lizards need for food. Because horned lizards do not eat fire ants, this competition displaces their food source. Domestic cats and dogs also put pressure on their numbers.

The Texas horned lizard (*Phrynosoma cornutum*) is a notable example of these challenges. It is the largest and most widely distributed American species. It is also the official state reptile of Texas. However, it has disappeared from almost half of its original geographic range.

In 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for it to be listed as endangered in Oklahoma. This highlights how these specialized reptiles are struggling to survive in a changing world.