Imagine finding a living creature that is grayish-brown while cultivating your fields, where the soil is grayish-brown. That happened to Frank in Eastern Washington, the farmer who happened to find one. Although he calls the teeny tiny animal a “thorny lizard,” it is actually a horned lizard. Thorny lizards are indigenous to and only found in Australia.
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Horned lizards may also be called horned toads, although they are not toads. The farmer’s cute little find is a reptile living in the southern and western United States. They are easily recognizable due to their wide central torso area and flat appearance. The little critters have a spiny back with scales along each side. They are born without their “horns,” which develop during their first year of life.
The farmer is so gentle with his little lizard find. He keeps it inside his closed hand while he transports it to safety. The little lizard hops down into the field and disappears almost immediately as he blends in perfectly with the cut hay.
Even in adulthood, the lizard will only be just under six inches. Unlike many animals, the horned lizard is diurnal, meaning that it hunts during the day. Its diet consists of spiders, ants, sow bugs, and other insects. They eat like toads, by flicking their sticky tongue to snatch bugs right out of the sky. During hot periods, they may seek refuge under a shrub or other shaded area.
If you enjoy learning about farming in the northwest, Frank regularly posts about his daily activities. He does create a lot of dust. Old truck buffs will truly appreciate his International F950 wrecker. That one only leaves the barn when the newer equipment breaks down in the field.
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