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Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Photo by AshleyT
Published on Project Noah
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35.908, -100.385

Field Notes

Description:

They are mostly flat with spiky projections all over the body.

Habitat:

They are found in prairie and rocky habitats in the South-central US.

Notes:

At Gene Howe WMA

Reference Links:

Texas horned lizard

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)
Leuba Ridgway
love these little guys - would be great to see them in the wild. Great photo Ashley!
AshleyT
Thanks Tom! Always a treat to find these guys. And unlike other lizards, I can actually catch these ;)
RiekoS
I have to admit Yuko, yes I do want one! ;-)
YukoChartraw
@Rieko: Although I may end up with some mysterious blood stains around my house, I still want one of these cute guys! :-) I know you want one, too! ;-)
Tom15
Nice spotting, very cute!
AshleyT
Thanks Debbie, buzzard, Yuko, Jack, and Rieko! And yes they can squirt blood from their eyes, they do it as a defense mechanism to ward of canids that often prey on them. However, they must have a really high body temperature to be able to do this. I've had some I've caught try to squirt blood at me but they were a little too cold. My teacher has been squirt with blood many times when trying to take samples from the lizards!
RiekoS
Really? They can squirt blood out of their eyes? I am not sure if Yuko still want one....
Jack Settle
Love these guys they're so unique! They can squirt blood out of their eyes, they are covered in spines, they eat ants, etc! Nice pic!
Debbie Stewart
what a lovely spotting Ashley!, I would love to see one of these as they look brilliant and seem to have a face like a miniature dinosaur with that spiky head crest...looks like I'm going to have to add Texas to my list of places to see if I want to see one like this though.

Spotted for Missions

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Texas Babes
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Texas Wildlife Photographers
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Oklahoma and Texas Wildlife
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Herps of Texas
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State Parks, NWR, WMA's of Texas
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 26, 2013

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