Reptiles
Desert Horned Lizard
Phrynosoma platyrhinos · also called desert horned lizards
Half-buried in loose desert sand with only its eyes exposed, a desert horned lizard waits motionless beside an active ant trail, picking off individual ants one at a time rather than chasing anything down. If a predator gets too close anyway, this same still, patient lizard has one more startling trick left in reserve.
Overview
The desert horned lizard, Phrynosoma platyrhinos, is a flattened, spiny ambush predator native to arid desert habitat across the western United States. Its sand-burrowing camouflage and heavy dietary reliance on ants set it apart from more actively hunting lizard species sharing its range.
Stillness as a survival strategy
Rather than relying on speed, the desert horned lizard survives through patience, disguise, and, if truly cornered, one of the more startling defensive tricks in the reptile world, a blood-squirting response few predators expect twice.
Status
Least Concern — present across much of the arid western United States, though facing localised pressure from habitat loss and declining native ant populations.
Desert Horned Lizard: common questions
Why does the desert horned lizard bury itself in sand?
A desert horned lizard frequently buries itself partially or almost completely in loose sand, leaving only its eyes exposed, a behaviour that provides both effective camouflage from predators and shelter from the extreme surface temperatures typical of its open desert habitat.
Can the desert horned lizard really shoot blood from its eyes?
Yes, like several other horned lizard species, a desert horned lizard is capable of squirting a thin stream of blood from blood vessels near its eyes when severely threatened, a startling defensive response that can help deter certain predators, particularly canine species, from continuing an attack.
Why does the desert horned lizard eat mainly ants?
A desert horned lizard relies heavily on ants as its primary food source, spending long periods sitting motionless near active ant trails and picking off individual ants as they pass, a specialised feeding strategy suited to its slow, camouflage-dependent lifestyle rather than active pursuit hunting.
Where does the desert horned lizard live?
The desert horned lizard is native to arid desert habitat across parts of the western United States, generally favouring open sandy or gravelly terrain where its flattened, spiny body and sand-burrowing behaviour provide effective camouflage against predators.