Evolution

The coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum) is an impressive little lizard. It can range in size from 6.3-11.4 cm (2.5-4.5 in) from snout to vent, but what this lizard lacks in size it more than makes up for in panache.

The coast horned lizard is found along portions of North America's Pacific coast, from Baja California to the Bay Area. It is diurnal, and prefers areas of exposed, sandy soil or loose soil. The coast horned lizard's diet is almost exclusively harvester ants, which it laps up with a sticky tongue. A single ant is not worth much caloric value, so the coast horned lizard must eat many ants in a day.

If this little lizard spends its days exposed and busy eating lots of ants, it is easy for predators to get a coast horned lizard lunch. However, this lizard is not without its defenses. The coast horned lizard will remain very still if it senses a predator nearby. It will lower its body to the ground, where the spikes on its body reduce the shadows its body creates. The lizard will also shake its body slightly from side to side to partially bury itself in the sand. The coast horned lizard's body is also the color of its habitat, to help it blend in further.

If its camoflouge fails, the coast horned lizard has two more surprises. First, its body is covered in spikes, which makes it difficult for a predator to get a coast horned lizard down its throat, especially when the lizard inflates itself to be as big as possible. Second, and most surprising of all, this lizard can shoot blood out of the corners of its eyes. The blood has chemicals in it that make it very unappetizing, so predators will let it go.

Picture courtesy of:

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/p.coronatum.html

Sources:

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/p.coronatum.html

http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_horned_lizard.php