Horned Lizard (genus Phrynosoma)

ReptileLizardDesert

Overview

Horned lizards (genus Phrynosoma) are flat, rounded, spiny lizards of the deserts and dry country of North and Central America, often called “horned toads” or “horny toads” for their squat, toad-like shape — though they are true lizards, not toads. Their most striking feature is a crown of pointed horns at the back of the head, backed up by rows of spines along the body, giving them a miniature-dinosaur look.

These desert specialists are masters of camouflage and ant-eating, and a few species possess one of the most extraordinary defences in the reptile world: squirting a jet of blood from the corners of their eyes.

Note: “horned lizard” covers many species; details here describe the genus broadly. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Horned lizards live in arid and semi-arid habitats across western North America and into Central America — deserts, scrub, grassland, and open sandy or rocky ground. They favour places with loose soil for burrowing and basking and with plenty of the ants they depend on, and different species are adapted to specific dryland regions.

Diet

Horned lizards are dietary specialists, feeding largely on ants — especially harvester ants — which they lap up in large numbers, along with some other small invertebrates such as beetles and grasshoppers. Eating so many small, low-nutrient, formic-acid-rich ants requires a big stomach and a slow, sit-and-wait lifestyle, and this specialised diet is one reason horned lizards can be hard to keep and are sensitive to anything that harms native ant populations.

Behavior

Horned lizards rely first on camouflage and stillness: their flattened, earth-coloured bodies blend into the ground, and they often sit motionless or shuffle down into loose soil to hide. The crown of horns makes them awkward and painful to swallow. Most remarkably, several species can rupture small blood vessels around the eyes to squirt a stream of blood — sometimes up to a short distance — at canine and feline predators such as foxes and coyotes; the blood contains compounds these predators find foul-tasting, helping drive them off. Horned lizards are day-active, bask to warm up, and may hibernate through cold months.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Horned lizards are beloved regional icons, but several species have declined due to habitat loss, pesticide use, the spread of invasive ants that displace their native ant prey, collection, and other pressures, and some are now protected. They generally fare poorly in captivity because of their specialised ant diet, so they are best left in the wild. They are harmless to people. Consult authoritative sources and the IUCN Red List for species-specific status.

More photos of the horned lizard