The Texas horned lizard - Nature's spikiest little pancake

Meet the Texas horned lizard—a tiny, spiky pancake. Despite its fierce name, this little lizard mostly just lounges in the sun, munches ants like they're popcorn, and tries its best to blend in with the dirt. And if you just won't leave this desert diva alone, it might just squirt you with blood from its eyes. This was my very first attempt at sketching these guys! it was not the smoothest, but it was extremely fun. 

If you would like a more visual experience with me speaking over my sketches, please visit Sketchbook Biology on YouTube.

Here's a few scientific articles where you can learn more about this adorable lizard:

• Natural history of the Texas horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum (phrynosomatidae), in Southeastern Colorado
• Avoiding being stung or bitten – prey capture behaviors of the ant-eating Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
• Integumental water movement and rate of water ingestion during rain harvesting in the Texas horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum
• Antipredator blood-squirting defense in horned lizards (Phrynosoma): Chemical Isolation of Plasma Component(s), Pogonomyrmex Ant Dietary Origin, and Evolution

Music:

Ancient Winds Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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