Horned Lizard

desert · defense · North America · reptile

Bumpy armor everywhere. Horned lizards have sharp horns and spikes all over their bodies that make them look extra scary to predators. These bumps and horns are made of bone covered in tough skin, so they're real weapons, not just for show.

Shoots blood out. When a horned lizard gets attacked, it can actually squirt blood from the corners of its eyes to confuse and gross out its enemies. Scientists think the blood tastes bad too, which makes predators want to let go right away.

Ant-eating champion. Horned lizards love to eat ants, and a single lizard can munch down hundreds of ants in one day. They're so good at finding ant trails that they sometimes get called 'horned toads' because they stay in one spot hunting like toads do.

Desert home sweet home. These tough little lizards live in deserts and dry places across North America, from the southwestern United States down into Mexico. They flatten their bodies against the ground to stay cool and hide from the hot sun.

Picky about snacks. Horned lizards are so focused on eating ants that they sometimes won't eat other insects, even if they're hungry and ants aren't available. This special diet makes them hard to keep as pets because it's tough to give them the right food.