The Horned lizard escapes predation by staying still and blending into their back ground. They look just like decomposed granite! When a predator is too close they will run very fast and then abruptly stop and stand still. When they are threatened, they are able to squirt blood from their eyes (at most only a few feet, usually not even that). This has a tendency to distract predators especially squeamish humans.

The Horned lizard is an odd looking lizard. Its body is covered in horny scales the longest being around its head. It is often called a horned toad because of its squat toad like appearance. Of coarse, these guys can tolerate much hotter and drier environments than any Bufo boreas.

They are very hard to see as they blend into the soil so well. They are able to change color to match the surrounding environment (Cryptic coloration). They usually are only visible when they move (when you almost step on them).

When temperatures get too hot (the middle of the day) they will burrow into loose soil or sand to escape the heat. In the winter they will hibernate under rocks or logs or in someone else's abandoned hole.