Horned lizard

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(Redirected from Phrynosoma)

Horned Lizards

Image:Short Horned Lizard.jpg
Short-horned Lizard

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Phrynosomatidae
Genus:	Phrynosoma

Species

see text

Horned lizards (Phrynosoma) are a genus of the Phrynosomatidae family of lizards. Horned lizards are often wrongly called "horned toads" or "horny toads", but are not toads at all. They are reptiles, not amphibians. The word Phrynosoma broken down truely means frog (phryno-) body (soma).

Horned lizards are morphologically similar to the Australian thorny devil (Moloch horridus), but are only distantly related. Though due to other unique similarities such as being sit an wait predators, and prey upon ants these two are considered to be a great example of convergent evolution.

Horned lizards carry with them a wide variety of means to avoid predation. Their coloration generally serves as camouflage. The lizard's spines (if they have them) make them a difficult meal for any predator that finds them. The lizards also have the ability to inflate their bodies in an effort to frighten potential predators.

At least four species of horned lizard (P. coronatum, cornutum, orbiculare, and solare) are known to have an unusual antipredator behavior. When attacked, they are capable of squirting blood from their eyes. Although it often does little more than drip off the lizard's face, blood has been observed flying distances of over 1 m (3 ft).

In California, Texas, and other states horned lizards are considered endangered species, though none of them are federally listed.