Horny toad, AKA Horned Lizard

• Found in the deserts and semi-arid environments of North and Central America, from southern Canada to Guatemala
• 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
• They feed primarily on ants, waiting for one to unsuspectingly crawl by before snapping it in and swallowing it whole. They are also known to eat grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders

• 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

• The ominous squirting blood emanates from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet. It’s meant to confuse would-be predators, but also contains a chemical that is noxious to dogs, wolves, and coyotes

Click here to watch the blood shooting mechanism in action

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