texas horned lizard
texas horned lizard Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A species of spiky, flat-bodied lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) native to the south-central United States and northern Mexico, distinguished by prominent horns on its head and its defensive ability to squirt blood from its eyes.
"While hiking in the arid scrublands of the Southwest, we were lucky enough to spot a well-camouflaged Texas horned lizard resting on the red dirt."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although colloquially referred to as a 'horny toad' or 'horned frog' due to its rounded, flattened body, the Texas horned lizard is entirely reptilian and not an amphibian.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its native geographic range in Texas and the distinctive, horn-like scales on its head and body. Its scientific name, Phrynosoma cornutum, derives from Greek and Latin meaning 'horned toad-body'.