Inside the effort to save the beloved Texas horned lizard
Once upon a time, you could find Texas horned lizards across much of the state: squat reptiles the color of rusty red and gray gravel, heads crowned with a fan of sharp little horns. Known as “horny toads,” the 5-inch lizards have been immortalized in magnets, murals, and even as TCU’s mascot. They were commonplace, easy to catch, and easy—in their grumpy, frowning way—to fall in love with.
“It’s got this cultural attachment in Texas,” says Nathan Rains, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Everyone’s got an affinity for horny toads.”
The biggest and most widespread of North American horned lizards, Texas horned lizards thrive in arid landscapes as far east as Austin, subsisting largely on a diet of red harvester ants. Slow and relatively docile, horned lizards rely on camouflage to keep out of trouble, though when cornered, they can squirt blood from their eyes to startle predators.
At first glance, the Texas horned lizard looks prehistoric, ageless, and tough. But beginning in the 1950s, horned lizards vanished from much of their historical territory. Older Texans “likely have fond memories of abundant horned lizards that aren’t there anymore,” says Andy Gluesenkamp, director of conservation at San Antonio Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research.
Now, Gluesenkamp and San Antonio Zoo are part of a coalition of zoos, state agencies, and private landowners working on a tricky project: restoring the state’s most famous and finicky reptile to the places it once roamed—and making sure those habitats are ready for their arrival.
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