HORNED TOAD

also called Horned Lizard (genus Phrynosoma), any of about 14 species of lizards belonging to the family Iguanidae that are usually characterized by daggerlike head spines, or horns. Both the flattened oval body and pointed fringe scales along the sides of the body are typical features. The lizards range in length from less than 7.5 to more than 12.5 cm (3 to 5 inches). They inhabit western North America from British Columbia southward to Guatemala and from Arkansas and Kansas westward to the Pacific coast. The usual habitat is desert or semidesert sandy country. Horned toads conceal themselves by colour-pattern change and by wriggling sideways into the sand until the entire body, except the head, is covered. They are food specialists, eating mainly ants. Defense mechanisms include the ability to inflate the body quickly by gulping air, and (rarely) spurting blood from the eyes. They are often kept as pets but seldom live long in captivity.