 Behavior
of the Horned Lizards
The Horned lizard escapes predation by staying
still and blending into their back ground. They look just like
decomposed granite! When a predator is too close they will run
very fast and then abruptly stop and stand still. When they are
threatened, they are able to squirt blood from their eyes (at
most only a few feet, usually not even that). This has a tendency
to distract predators especially squeamish humans.
The Horned lizard is an odd looking lizard.
Its body is covered in horny scales the longest being around its
head. It is often called a horned toad because of its squat toad
like appearance. Of coarse, these guys can tolerate much hotter
and drier environments than any Bufo boreas.
They are very hard to see as they blend into
the soil so well. They are able to change color to match the
surrounding environment (Cryptic coloration). They usually are
only visible when they move (when you almost step on them).
When temperatures get too hot (the middle of
the day) they will burrow into loose soil or sand to escape the
heat. In the winter they will hibernate under rocks or logs or in
someone else's abandoned hole.
Diet of the Horned Lizards
 The
horned lizard eats arthropods, including ants, beetles, and
spiders. Ants seem to be their favorites. They usually are
observed in close proximity to ant hills. Many non native ant
species have moved into their habitats displacing or eradicating
the native ant species that the Coast horned lizard feeds on.
Habitat requirements of the Horned Lizard
The horned lizard needs bare soil; they cannot
tolerate weeds at all (Yellow Star Thistle, Bromus and other
nasties). It is very hard for them to move around in this stuff,
probably because of their width, and they need clean loose soil
to lay their eggs and to hide in.
They like clean chaparral (uninfected with
European weeds) with loose areas of soil. They also burrow in
loose soil.
The coast horned lizard is presently listed as
a Federal Special Concern species (FSC) and
a California Special Concern species (DFG-CSC). So don't
collect them! They are much happier outside than in a terrarium
in your living room.
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