Texas Horned Lizard |
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Do any of you know what this organism is? Some of you might think its a smaller version of the large reptilian giants that were used to scare people in the 1960 movie "The Lost World" or some of you might call it or have heard it called a "Horny Toad" because it superficially looks like one, but in fact it is just a Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). The scientific name means "toad-bodied" so it comes from the Greek word phrynos which means toad and soma which means body. If you were watching one you might think it was a toad because of its many toad like characteristics like when they flick out their tongue in a toad like action or when they puff themselves up to deter predators from attacking them (Sherbrooke). Despite their toad-like characteristics they really are Texas Horned Lizards. They have scales, tails, forefeet with five clawed toes, and eggs specialized for development on land, these are just a few of the main reasons showing why in fact they are lizards and not toads. send comments or any corrections to |
