Desert Horned Lizard

Master of chamouflage

commonly called *Horny Toad*

What an amazing creature

able to live on ants, which almost no one else eats. He blends into the background so well he holds still and lets potential carnovores pass him by. If someone does see him, his thorny flat and fearsome shape makes him hard to swallow. If he does run, he goes only a short distance and stops again, flattening into the ground, and lets his pursuer pass right over him. And, most amazing, as a last resort, he squirts blood from his eyeballs!

I photographed this particular guy along the trail into Pine City, JTNP.

for more, see an online Desert USA, Horned Lizard article