Matagorda Special 1: Horned Lizards/Toads
| Description: | Though thought by some to by anurans (toads) the horned lizard, or horned toad is a reptile that has to rlationship to toads or frogs. Above is the Texas horned toad, whose range is from central to SE texas and occasionally a sighting in louisiana. The following info applies to lizards of the genus Phyrnosoma (horned toads), though. They eat ants exclusively. Red ants, carpenter, and sugar ants, but not fire ants. They live in hot, arid environments with lots of grass, one of three protections from predations. The second way of defense is what you'd expect–spikes. only about 30-40 % of the spines are actually hard. And last, they can rupture blood vessels behind their eyes to shoot a shockingly accurate, five-foot jet of blood from their eyes. recent research suggests this defense is mainly targeted at canines though, not humans. The blood is distateful and mildly toxic. Most horned toads are in danger, and after a survey on a ~15 square mile island, approximately 10 showed up and were counted. |
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