We have an over abundance of the fun Texas iconic creature the Horny Toad. We see two or three of them on most every walk here in the desert southwest. This despite their declining numbers. One never tires of finding them and I never miss a chance to catch everyone of them. I give them a good once over while they remind me of younger days. I then release them after giving them a good belly rub while they feint sleep in my hand.

The short-horned lizard is often referred to as a “horned toad” or “horny toad” because its squat, flattened shape and short, blunt snout give it a toad-ish look. There are over a dozen recognized species found in the deserts and semi-arid environments of North and Central America, from southern Canada to Guatemala.

Despite their spiky features, short-horned lizards are preyed upon by a number of creatures, including hawks, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, dogs, wolves, and coyotes. Consequently, beyond their natural camouflage, they have adapted a pair of remarkable talents. In order to ward off hungry predators, short-horned lizards are capable of inflating their bodies up to twice their size, resembling a spiny balloon. And if this proves insufficient, some species employ one of the animal kingdom’s most bizarre defensive mechanisms: They shoot blood from their eyes.

PEACEOUT ††† en theos ††† jlawrence