Search Dictionary
Definition of short-horned lizard
short-horned lizard
Plural:short-horned lizards
short-horned lizard Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A small, flat-bodied, squat lizard of the genus Phrynosoma, native to the western regions of North America, distinguished by its exceptionally short crown scales and its unique defensive ability to squirt blood from its eyes.
Example
"While hiking through the high deserts of Utah, the biologist carefully photographed a well-camouflaged short-horned lizard resting on a sunbaked rock."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often colloquially referred to as a 'horny toad' or 'horned frog' in regional North American dialects, which can create confusion as the animal is entirely reptilian, not an amphibian.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Short-horned lizard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/short-horned lizard