What Do Horned Lizards Eat ?
Lizards are widespread group of reptiles with four sprawling limbs, a long tail and dry scaly skin. They are cold blooded, and usually found in hot dry regions. Normally lizards are small in size with a rounded skull, small neck, short sprawling legs and a long tail. Some groups of lizards have spines on its back and sharp prickly scales. They are known as horned lizards or horny toads. |
They are wonderful, unique lizards which share our lives and heritage. They are vulnerable to overheating. So, as the day gets warmer, the lizards move into the shade, or go into burrows to stay cool in the long summer afternoons. They are distinguishable by their squat flattened shape, crown of horns adorning their head and the numerous spines across their back. Horned lizards are protectively colored and often found buried in the sand with only their heads exposed. They depend on the environment to control their body temperature.
Eating habits of horned lizards:
Most species of horned lizards prefer only harvester ants for eating. These ants are small, and contain more indigestible chitin and provide formic acid to them. Formic acid is a necessary nutrient for the horned lizards. Some species of horned lizards eat a variety of other insects also like grasshoppers, beetles, crickets and spiders to supplement their diet. When a prey passes by, the lizard quickly snaps it up with a flick of its tongue and swallows it. They search their prey in open areas. A lizard normally eats 20-100 ants a day.
If the horned lizard comes from a high elevation area, it may not eat harvester ants.
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