Arizona Horned Toad

The horned toad is called by many names. That's because most don't know what it should be called or even what it is. What it isn't, is a toad. It's a lizard that is shaped like a lumpy toad. And it's a bit frightening looking because it has thorn-like projections at the rear of their heads.

People call them "horned toads", "horny toads" and "horn toads" but if we all were to be accurate, we would call them "horned lizards". That makes it a reptile and and not an amphibian. Its scientific name is "phrynosoma". But what fun would it be if we all called it that?

Their spiny things and flat body are defensive assets against predators. If I were a hawk, an owl or a snake, I would be scared to eat that thing. And if they aren't already scary enough, they can inflate their bodies and even hiss to appear even more menacing. Now this bit of fact will really freak you out. A horny toad can shoot a stream of blood from capillaries in its eye up to four feet away. Imagine you are a coyote or a fox and you came across this creature, albeit small, that looks like a dragon and spits blood out of its eye.... would you hang around for dinner?

Characteristics and Behavior.

There are up to 6 species of horny toads that live in the Sonoran Desert region and depending upon the species, adults range from 3.5 to 6.5 inches long. Their diet consists mostly of live ants which they capture with the flick of a sticky tongue. They also eat crickets, beetles and other insects. Some ants such as Harvester and Red Ants will bite and have venom, but evidently it doesn't adversely effect a horned lizard's esophagus or stomach.

Most species lay clutches of 3 to as many as 45 eggs during late summer and mother horned toads do not care for their eggs or young. When hatched, the young are about the size of a quarter. Very few hatched horned lizards make it to adulthood. Their lifespan is about 6 to 8 years.

They are active and hunt during the morning or late afternoons. At night they burrow into loose soil. As reptiles, their body temperature depends upon the environment so in the mornings they emerge from the burrows for sunning their bodies to the desired temperature before becoming active. If they get progressively to hot, they will seek shade or burrow back under the soil. From about late September until April, horny toads hibernate and live on stored fat.

Arizona Habitat.

The horned lizard exists in all western states and Mexico in all terrains from sea level to about 9,500 foot elevations. Although they live in diverse habitats, most species specific to Arizona prefer desert areas to semi-arid plains. Some species actually prefer mountain slopes and pine forested areas.

Horned Lizard Video