The Horned Lizards are commonly called as horn toads. These lizards are found in desert scrub, on sandy flats and valleys with little to no windblown sand. The first few hours of their day are spent basking. Usually, flattened against a rock or slanting soil. So, their back is exposed to the sun. They feed primarily on ants, waiting for one, unsuspectingly crawling by, before snapping it in and swallowing it whole. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, beetles and spiders.
| Common name | Horned Lizard |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phrynosoma |
| colour | Yellowish, gray or reddish-brown |
| size | 7 to 13 cm |
| Habitat | Desert, valleys and windblown sand |
| Life span | 35 to 8 years |
LIFE CYCLE:Usually mating occurs in summer. The eggs shells are white and flexible and on an average about one and a half inch in diameter. They lay 18 eggs on average. The young ones are called hatchlings. They are about 7/8 to 1-1/8 inches long, snout to vent. The young ones have been observed to bury themselves immediately after hatching. The babies receive no parental care. When they emerge, they start to hunt for food. The young ones are cute, the horns on their head are apparent, although the rest of their skin, while well marked is relatively smooth. They reach sexual maturity within 2 to 3 years. Their coloring can be yellowish, grey or reddish-brown depending on the environment. Their shape affords them considerable camouflage on the surface. The adults range from 7 to 13 cm in length. The average body mass of an adult is 100g. They have a lifespan of 5 to 8 years.
