Desert Animals : Horned Lizards

Desert animal, horned lizard

Wild life | Desert animal: Horned lizards | Horned lizards are odd-looking reptiles! Unlike most lizards, horned lizards have horn-like spines on their wide, flattened bodies that make them look more like toads than lizards. In fact, "horned toads" or "horny toads" are their other known identities, even though horned lizards are not related to toads at all! There are 13 different species of horned lizards. Most of them live in the United States, but some find their homes in Southern Canada or Central America. Horned lizards prefer hot, dry environments. Hence, deserts are where most horned lizards can be found.

Diet: Horned lizards mainly feed on ants. They also eat small animals such as grasshoppers, spiders, and beetles. Horned lizards have two different hunting methods. Sometimes, they patrol in an open area looking for food. Other times, they just wait for their victim to come near by. With a quick flick of their tongues, horned lizards snap up prey and swallow it whole.

Many animals have their eyes on horned lizards. Their natural enemies include hawks, snakes, roadrunners, coyotes, or other lizards. To avoid ending up in other animals'stomach, horned lizards have several self-defense approaches.

horned lizard on sand

desert animal | horned lizard

horned lizard