Posted on 02/02/2014 6:17:04 PM PST by patriot08
With a body covered in horns, resembling some prehistoric creature- and the demon-like ability to squirt blood from his eyes, the mere sight of the Texas horned lizard is enough to send most screaming and running in the opposite direction should they encounter him.
But most older Texans know his fierce appearance is all for show just to scare off predators. As children they used to catch and play with the lizards, for he is a gentle little creature who never bites and will go to sleep in your hand if you roll him over and rub his tummy.
This docile little creature is the state reptile of Texas and, as the "horned frog", is the mascot of Texas Christian University.
The Texas horned lizard is the largest and most abundant of the approximately 14 species of horned lizards in the western United States and Mexico. They can reach a length of 4-6 inches.
The lizards colors camouflage it against predators, and it can also puff itself up and protrude its many small body thorns making it difficult to swallow.
The Texas horned lizard also has the ability to squirt a stream of blood from its eyes for up to 5 feet. This not only frightens and confuses predators, but has a bad taste when predators such as wolves and coyotes try to eat it.
There has been a serious decline in the number of the lizards in recent years and it is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell them without a special permit. The decline is thought to be the result of overuse of pesticides and invading fire ants which destroy the harvester ants the lizards feed on.
Yeah, seems they were all over once, but no more.
It’s a shame.
I played them all the time as a kid...
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Me, too. They’re just so darn cute.
And they are easy to catch.
That’s “fireflies” to the Yanks. I say that because I think “lightning bugs” is a Southern term.
I haven’t seen any in San Antonio either.
Michelle Olizard!
They are indeed a Texas treasure! As are the Texas Tortoise.
They used to be everywhere too. Now you don't see them around anymore.
How many played with them as kids?
I had 3 as pets when I was in short pants, decades ago.
The decline of the big red ants has almost wiped them out.
If any show back up on the property here, they will be treated like royalty.
/johnny
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Thanks, Johnny. That’s very sweet.
Maybe instead of a Gadsten Flag we need one with with the horned lizard with the caption: Dare you to screw with us....
Yes, they are very hard to raise. They need a special diet and sunshine.
The Ft Worth Zoo is trying to help save them. They have a breeding program.
http://www.safarisamblog.com/texas-horned-lizard/
The TV show, ‘Texas Parks and Wildlife’ had a show about them this morning.
They looked so cute running around in their sand cages.
.
See my post above re; Ft. Worth Zoo trying to save them by breeding them.
http://www.safarisamblog.com/texas-horned-lizard/
Yes, we Southerners called them lightening bugs. :)
Michelle Olizard!
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Don’t insult the poor little lizards. :)
When I was a kid, I lived with my grandmother near Wylie, Texas. I’d catch horny toads and put them in my pillow case so I could play with them after my nap. They were always gone when I woke up. I am a horny toad fan and it’s sad to think of their numbers depleting.
We live in central AZ. Our min-pin had a stand-off with a horny toad. I videoed the encounter until the dog got too crazy. The horny toad was relocated to a safer corner of the yard. A couple of months later, there were a bunch of baby horny toads running around the yard.
We also have video of a couple of horny toads having sex, but I don’t want to embarrass anybody by posting it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJjBn11o-g
I haven’t seen any in San Antonio either.
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I thought there would be some around SA. Around the dry, rocky areas. Dang. It MUST be getting bad for them.
I read there’s a colony on Matagorda Island (of all places)
Tatt- I hope so, too. Surely, they’re still out there in places like Marfa & Muleshoe & Littlefield, etc...places that aren’t so built up. San Angelo, itself, isn’t just *so* built up (or wasn’t 10 years ago). I hope there are still some there.
Aww mine’s never had a name. I’m gonna fix that.
Andy- I looked for them for years & finally settled for turtles (Tooter & Tink) from the dime store (Winn’s).
Patriot- I think one of the neighbor boy’s in SA had one for awhile, but IIRR, they took it up to New Brraunfels & turned it loose. DH has stopped for several turtles in his rural claims travels & gotten them out of the road. Not sure if they were that species, though.
ps. I never saw any of them spit.
I love it when you can stick it right back at them like that.
Friend of mine went through FLETC and was in a role-playing exercise interviewing 'immigrants' on a bus. All spoke Spanish- except that the curve that they tried to throw him was that one of them spoke German. My friend grew up in Germany, so he just effortlessly switched to German. A very English 'Ah, s**t' came out of the grader. :-)
We called them lightning bugs in NW New Jersey.
Haven’t thought about Molly Ivins in while. Thanks for the refresher.
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