Texas Horned Lizards (Horny Toads):
The Texas horned lizard,
though not a federally recognized endangered species, is becoming increasingly
rare in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico.
It is only one of
13 different North American species of horned lizards. Though this reptile is
most commonly referred to as a toad or frog, it is actually a lizard. Its body
is short and round with many spines on the head and back, though the only real
horns are the two on the head, while the others are specialized scales used for
protection against predators. Texas horned lizard also protects itself from
predators with its coloring, which differs depending on the color of the area’s
soil, used as camouflage, puffing up to look bigger and harder to swallow and
running fast for short distances and then stopping to disorient the other
animal. In addition, they can shoot streams of blood out of their eyes, though
this is not used as defense but is an uncontrollable reaction when frightened.
Texas horned lizard is
a predator itself, preying mainly on harvester ants, though they also eat
beetles and spiders. Their form of hunting for food is the patient method,
where they will sit and wait a few yards away from an ant colony to avoid being
swarmed until a lone ant wanders nearby. They then take a few fast, short
steps, capture the ant with its tongue and swallow it whole. In response to
their environment, Texas horned lizard has adapted to have a high conservation
of water. Most of their water can be consumed through the 70 ants they eat per
day, however they can also collect and drink water from off of their backs.
They are most commonly seen at temperatures ranging from 80°-90° during the months of
March-September, and hibernate in holes in the ground from October-February.
This animal has become
endangered for many different reasons:
• The use of pesticides, killing
off harvester ants, the lizard’s main source of food.
• The use of herbicides, which
reduces the harvester ant’s source of food, thereby reducing the harvester ant
population.
• The poisoning of ants in
residential areas. Though harvester ants are fairly harmless, these colonies
are easily visible and targeted.
• Droughts, which have become
increasingly common in these areas.
• Increased numbers of roads and
vehicles. Texas horned lizards like to lie on the roads in order to increase
their body temperature with the heat of the pavement, and are susceptible to
being run over.
• Increased numbers of predators,
such as feral cats, cattle egrets and grackles.
• The collection of Texas horned lizards
as pets. It was very common from 1900-1980 to capture these lizards and sell
them as pets to Europe and eastern-US, though this was not a sustainable
practice due to their very specific diet. This has been outlawed, though some
populations of lizards have yet to recover.
• Increased human development.
Seattle
University Rotaract Club – RID 5030 UNITED STATES
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