Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. In the arid plains and rocky deserts of North America, a ...

Few animals defend themselves in a manner as startling as the horned lizard, a squat, spiny reptile of North America’s arid country. When its usual defenses fail, some species resort to one of the ...

When it comes to creative survival tactics in the animal kingdom, few creatures can compete with a small, spiky reptile that weaponizes its own blood. The greater short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma ...

(WGHP) — Meet the Texas horned lizard. Despite “Texas” being in their name, they have been found in North Carolina. These lizards are most active in very hot climates and can squirt blood out of their ...

The short-horned lizard is often referred to as a “horned toad” or “horny toad” because its squat, flattened shape and short, blunt snout give it a toad-ish look. There are over a dozen recognized ...