Texas Horned Lizard

Phrynosoma cornutum

Range

Occurs from the south-central United States into northern Mexico, including much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico.

Habitat

Open arid habitats, Open semiarid habitats, Grassland with sparse vegetation, Cactus, brush, or scrubby-tree habitats with loose sand or loamy soil

Diet

Primarily eats harvester ants, especially Pogonomyrmex rugosus; other insects are taken opportunistically.

Facts

• When threatened, it can puff up its body and eject blood from the corners of its eyes. Its cryptic coloration and burrowing also help it cope with dry, exposed habitats.
• Harvester ants dominate its diet: one stomach-content study found ants in about 69% of prey items.
• Females usually lay a single yearly clutch in a burrow, with about 14–37 eggs that hatch after roughly 40–61 days of incubation.
• Specialized channels on the back can direct rainwater toward the mouth, an adaptation documented for this dry-environment lizard.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• Phrynosoma cornutum (Texas Horned Lizard) | Animal Diversity Web
• Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
• Texas Horned Lizard | Missouri Department of Conservation