Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Horned lizards (Phrynosoma) are a genus of lizards which are the type genus of the family Phrynosomatidae. Popularly called a "horned toad", "horny toad", or "horned frog", it is neither a toad nor a frog but a true lizard. The spines on its back and sides are made from modified scales, whereas the horns on the heads are true horns (i.e. they have a bony core). There are 15 species of horned lizards in North America, eight of which are native to the United States. The largest-bodied and most widely distributed of the U.S. species is the Texas horned lizard (P. cornutum). The horned lizard's diet is primarily made up of harvester ants, which makes them more difficult to maintain in captivity than most other lizards, though they supplement these with termites, beetles, and grasshoppers. Here you may post messages or questions pertaining to all aspects and issues regarding the keeping, breeding, health, and conservation of all horned lizards species and subspecies. If you are a new user to this forum, please take the time to review the rules first before posting.