Why they're awesome: Greater short-horned lizards have a squat, flat shape and short snouts, which makes them look more like amphibians than reptiles — hence the nickname "horny toads." But these ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world.

Eastern Montana's short-horned lizard, also known as a horny toad, has a unique way to stay safe. The reptile can shoot blood out of its eyes. The blood has a bad taste that comes from eating ...

In the vast and sometimes bizarre world of animals, there’s one reptile that takes self-defense to a shocking new level: it can literally shoot blood from its eyes. This strange yet fascinating ...

When my grandson Parker was 11 years old, he called me from a coastal island with exciting news. Problem was I took the call outside a restaurant with people jabbering and at a spot where I had a ...

Growing up, family pets in Texas included dogs, cats, goldfish, canaries, sometimes a horse, maybe a rabbit, and almost always a horned lizard, or what was more commonly called a horny toad or horned ...

This little lizard can fire blood up to 5 feet from its face, has spiky horns and inflates itself to choke predators. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.