Horned Lizard
Like a miniature dinosaur.
Horns sprout from the head with bony core in swept-back shape. All the spikes are enlarged scales. These adaptations provide the animal excellent protection and heat control for its size.
Lizards flourish in the Gila region. On a sunny hillside above Railroad Canyon I met several horned lizards, including this one.
It is simple to have a good study of one of these because their primary defense is to run for just a bit, and then freeze suddenly in attempt to lose the predator. When it comes time for them to eat, horned lizards are sit-and-wait hunters. Essentially they don't like to move much, only when necessary.
These are reptilian ant eaters.
I did not put one in a sandwich, because their blood tastes foul to mammal predators. The horned lizard has this awesome advanced defense to burst capillaries right near the eye to squirt unexpectedly large amounts of blood from its face. Also, I did not need to bother him as I carried plenty of food.
Phrynosoma orbiculare - Horned Lizard
- in the -
Gila National Forest, New Mexico
Horned Lizard
Like a miniature dinosaur.
Horns sprout from the head with bony core in swept-back shape. All the spikes are enlarged scales. These adaptations provide the animal excellent protection and heat control for its size.
Lizards flourish in the Gila region. On a sunny hillside above Railroad Canyon I met several horned lizards, including this one.
It is simple to have a good study of one of these because their primary defense is to run for just a bit, and then freeze suddenly in attempt to lose the predator. When it comes time for them to eat, horned lizards are sit-and-wait hunters. Essentially they don't like to move much, only when necessary.
These are reptilian ant eaters.
I did not put one in a sandwich, because their blood tastes foul to mammal predators. The horned lizard has this awesome advanced defense to burst capillaries right near the eye to squirt unexpectedly large amounts of blood from its face. Also, I did not need to bother him as I carried plenty of food.
Phrynosoma orbiculare - Horned Lizard
- in the -
Gila National Forest, New Mexico