Texas horned lizard
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| Phrynosoma cornutum |
The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is a small lizard that occurs in North America. Like other horned lizards, it is often wrongly called the "Horned Toad" or "Horny Toad", but it is not a toad at all.
The primary food for Texas horned lizards is ants. In recent years, numbers of Texas horned lizards have been declining, which is partly blamed on the invasion of fire ants which has reduced the lizard's available food supply.
The Texas horned lizard is the state reptile of Texas and the mascot of Texas Christian University (under the name "Horned Frog").
Texas horned lizards are able to bleed through their eyes.
Some Native Americans consider these toads sacred.
Range and habitat
The lizard ranges from Kansas southweard through Oklahoma, Texas, and the eastern half of New Mexico and into northeastern Mexico. They have also been introduced into North Carolina.
External links
- Horned lizard (focusing on the Texas horned lizard) in the Handbook of Texas Online
- TCU page on their mascot