Texas Horned Lizard

Texas Horned Lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum

The Texas Horned Lizard is the most common horned lizard within Texas, but it is a threatened species. While once found throughout most of Texas, it is nearly gone from the eastern third of the state. It can be distinguished from the other two species of horned lizard found within the state by its prominent horns, the two center spines longer than the others, and by the two rows of fringed scales along the sides of the body. While sometimes known as a horny toad due to their toad-like body, they are actually a species of lizard. They will inflated their body when frightened adding to their toad-like appearance, but this is a prelude to its most famous defense: squirting up to 1/3 of its volume of blood out of a pore near its eye.

Texas Horned Lizard at Laguna Atascosa.

Texas Horned Lizards feed on a variety of arthropods, but the majority of their diet, up to 90% of it, is composed of harvester ants. As with many species, there seems to be a number of factors contributing to the decline of Texas Horned Lizards, some of which are more directly tied to harvester ants. These include pesticides reducing harvester ant populations and prolonged periods of extreme drought causing harvest ants to become dormant which, as a major source of food, impacts Texas Horned Lizards. In addition, as horned lizards often bask on gravel and pavement, there is likely an increase of roadkill with the increase of roads, and the number of potential predators, especially feral animals, has likely impacted Texas Horned Lizards. The pet trade also has had a major impact in past. Legislation within Texas and Oklahoma has resulted in the Texas Horned Lizard being protect by law. There is also more awareness of their population thanks to projects like Texas Horned Lizard Watch and encouragement from the Oklahoma Wildlife Diversity Program to report sightings and other observations of Texas Horned Lizards.