Horned lizards, often called “horny toads” due to their broad, flattened bodies and stubby tails, are reptiles known for their unique, spiky appearance. These creatures, with their crown of horns and varied body spines, frequently spark curiosity about their potential for harm. This article aims to clarify whether horned lizards pose a danger to humans or household pets.
Understanding Horned Lizard Behavior
Horned lizards exhibit a shy and non-aggressive disposition. They primarily rely on camouflage, with their coloration blending seamlessly with their surroundings, allowing them to remain motionless. If camouflage fails, they may run in short bursts, stopping abruptly to confuse a predator. When directly threatened, they can puff up their bodies to appear larger and more formidable, making them harder for predators to swallow.
Several horned lizard species can squirt a stream of blood from their eyes. This involves restricting blood flow from the head, building pressure in their eyes. The blood can travel up to 5 feet and contains a noxious substance, particularly irritating to canine predators like dogs, wolves, and coyotes. While this behavior is startling, it is harmless to humans and serves as a last-resort defense against specific threats.
Assessing Risk to Humans and Pets
Horned lizards are not venomous and pose no toxic threat to humans or pets. While they can bite, such instances are extremely rare and only occur if mishandled. Their bites are weak and do not harm humans, as their jaws are adapted for consuming small ants.
Regarding household pets, horned lizards are not predators and pose no danger to dogs or cats. Instead, they are often prey for larger animals. Their primary instinct is to avoid confrontation, relying on their array of passive and active defenses to deter potential threats rather than engaging in aggressive behavior.
Why Horned Lizards Need Protection
Horned lizards face significant threats from human activities, highlighting that humans pose a greater danger to them. Many species are protected or listed as threatened due to factors like habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation caused by urban development, agriculture, and road construction. The conversion of native lands to other uses reduces the open, sandy areas they require for basking, foraging, and burrowing.
The introduction of invasive species, particularly red imported fire ants, also severely impacts horned lizard populations. These aggressive ants outcompete native ant species, which are the primary food source for horned lizards, and can directly attack and kill young lizards and eggs. Pesticide use, intended to control insects, further depletes their essential ant food supply, weakening the lizards and making them more vulnerable. Additionally, historical collection for the pet trade contributed to their decline, as many captured lizards do not survive in captivity due to their specialized dietary needs.