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Texas Horned Lizard
HORNED LIZARDS!
RANGE: Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. There are 14 recognized species. They range from Arkansas to the Pacific Coast, and from British Columbia south to Guatemala.
DESCRIPTION: 2 1/2-7 1/8" (6.3-18.1 cm). Flat-bodied lizard with large crown of spines on head; 2 center spines longest. 2 rows of pointed scales fringe each side. Belly scales keeled. Red to yellow to gray; dark spots have light rear margins. Dark lines radiate from eye.
BREEDING: Mates April to May. Clutch of 14-37 eggs is laid in burrow dug by female May to July. Young hatch in some 6 weeks, measure about 1 1/4" (3.1 cm).
HABITAT: From sea level to 6,000' (1,800 m) in dry areas, mostly open country with loose soil supporting grass, mesquite, cactus.
DISSCUSION: Diurnal. This lizard is the common "horned toad" of the pet trade. But since it feeds almost exclusively on live large ants—generally unavailable to the pet owner—most pet horned lizards slowly starve to death over a period of months.
DEFENSE: Horned lizards use a wide variety of means to avoid predation. Their coloration generally serves as camouflage. When threatened, their first defense is to remain still to avoid detection. If approached too closely, they generally run in short bursts and stop abruptly to confuse the predator's visual acuity. If this fails, they puff up their body to cause it to look more horny, making it appear larger and more difficult to swallow. At least four species are also able to squirt an aimed stream of blood (Called Autohaemorrhaging) from the corners of the eyes for a distance of up to 5 feet. They do this by restricting the blood flow leaving the head, thereby increasing blood pressure and rupturing tiny vessels around the eyelids. This not only confuses predators, but also the blood tastes foul to canine and feline predators. It appears to have no effect against predatory birds. To avoid being picked up by the head or neck, horned lizards duck or elevate their head and orient their cranial horns straight up, or back. If a predator tries to take it by the body, the lizard drives that side of its body down into the ground so that the predator cannot easily get its lower jaw underneath the lizard.
