Facts about Texas Horned Lizard
- 07
During extreme heat, Texas horned lizards can lower their body temperature through behavioral thermoregulation by positioning themselves in shade and pressing flat against cooler ground surfaces.
- 06
The Texas horned lizard's distinctive crown of horns contains between 8 and 14 pointed projections arranged around its head for defense and species recognition.
- 05
A Texas horned lizard's pregnancy lasts approximately 5-6 weeks before females lay clutches of 4-30 leathery eggs in sandy soil during late spring and early summer.
- 04
Populations of Texas horned lizards have declined by approximately 90 percent since the 1950s due to habitat loss, pesticide use reducing ant colonies, and the introduction of invasive fire ants.
- 03
Flattened bodies and cryptic coloration allow Texas horned lizards to remain nearly invisible on rocky desert soil while hunting for prey during daylight hours.
- 02
Harvester ants comprise nearly 90 percent of the Texas horned lizard's diet, making them highly specialized foragers that can consume over 600 ants in a single meal.
- 01
When threatened, Texas horned lizards can spray blood from ducts near their eyes up to 6 feet away as a defensive mechanism.