Upon reaching sexual maturity, the snout-vent length of Texas horned lizards measures a minimum of 69 mm. Female Texas horned lizards are larger than the males. Females reportedly grow until they become 144 mm in length, while males grow to 94 mm. Their mass ranges from 25 to 90 g.
How much do horned lizards weigh?
Large adults can be about 10 cm (4 inches) long, but many specimens are smaller. An adult lizard can easily fit in the palm of a child's hand. A yearling weighs only 1.8 – 2.5 grams . For comparison, a dime weighs 2.2 grams.
How big do Texas horned lizards get?
Little information is available on their normal lifespan, but horned lizards can live at least five years. Size: Adult females reach about 5 inches in snout-vent length, but males are smaller, reaching only about 3.7 inches .
Are Texas horned lizards fast?
At night, the lizard buries itself in sand. Although they prefer to move very little, horned lizards can move quite fast if they feel a predator is in the area , and dart into thick grass and foliage to escape. Horned lizards are also excellent diggers, and can quickly burrow underground to escape threats.
What is unique about a Texas horned lizard?
Despite their fierce appearance, Texas horned lizards are extremely docile creatures . ... Their coloration generally serves as camouflage against predation, however, when threatened by a predator, a horned lizard puffs up and appears very fat, which causes its body scales to protrude, making it difficult to swallow.
Is it illegal to keep a horned toad?
Populations of the Texas Horned Lizard have disappeared in East and Central Texas, and are decreasing in North Texas as well. ... Not only is it illegal to keep many horned lizard species , but they are difficult to care for in captivity, and most captured ones eventually die from improper care.
Is it illegal to own a horned toad in Texas?
Out of their natural home, the animals died, and so the state began protecting the Texas horned lizard in 1967. Today it is illegal even to own one .
How can you tell if a horned lizard is male or female?
Males are more swollen at the base of the tail than females and have a pair of enlarged scales near their vent (cloaca). Females and juveniles have some color, but not nearly as bright. Even if you can't get a look at the lizard's belly, there are also behavior clues that help reveal gender.
Can you buy a horned lizard?
We have some really amazing Desert Horned lizards for sale. This is an incredibly unique lizard that will eat crickets and other insects, but needs some ants in its diet. When you buy a horned lizard from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee.
Where can I find a Texas horned lizard?
Because horned lizards dig for hibernation, nesting and insulation purposes, they commonly are found in loose sand or loamy soils. Texas horned lizards range from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico .
Why are Texas horned lizards important?
Texas horned lizards keep harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) populations under control . They are also known to fall prey to larger predators, such as western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) or greater roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus).
Why do Texas horned lizards have tough skin?
Desert horned lizards and their kin rely heavily on their skin and scales for protection from predators. The thickness of their scales helps to prevent the teeth of would-be predators from penetrating their skin. ... When attacked by a predator, horned lizards will jab attackers with the large spines on their heads .
Do Texas horned lizards have sharp claws to dig?
They use their small claws for digging and climbing . Watch out – They Squirt Blood! If threatened by predators, horned lizards will squirt blood from the eyes.
How long does a horned toad live?
They have a life expectancy of from 5 to 8 years in the deserts of North America.
Can you touch a horned toad?
The “horned toad” is not a toad. It's really a lizard that is known by many names such as horn toads, horned lizards and horny toads. They look rather frightening and evil with pointy thorn-like projections all over their body. But these creatures are docile and completely harmless.
Do horned lizards bite?
Maximal bite forces vary considerably among horned lizards, with highly myrmecophagous species exhibiting very low bite forces. In contrast, members of the short-horned lizard clade are able to bite considerably harder than even closely related dietary generalists.
