From National Geographic Magazine...
In order to ward off hungry predators, short-horned lizards are capable of inflating their bodies up to twice their size, resembling a spiny balloon. And if this proves insufficient, some species employ one of the animal kingdom’s most bizarre defensive mechanisms: They shoot blood from their eyes.The ominous squirting blood emanates from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet (one meter). It’s meant to confuse would-be predators, but also contains a chemical that is noxious to dogs, wolves, and coyotes.
Recently at a public meeting to promote a connection between the Katy Trail and the Arts District, one very prominent supporter of the Katy Trail made the following comment,
"One of the best things the Katy Trail has done is to get bicycles off the streets."Sometimes, I just want to puff up and squirt blood from my eyes.
1 comment:
I just realized an unintended deeper truth about this post. I have seen two horn-toads in the last 20 years, both in Dallas.
About ten years ago, I saw one on the L.B. Houston natural-surface trail along the Trinity River off of California Crossing Road. As I came around the bend one spring afternoon, I saw a horn-toad sunning itself in the sand in the middle of the trail near the old wooden trestle.
And then about six years ago, while walking what was to soon become the Katy Trail along Goat Hill, I saw another one laying out in the middle of the gorge where the rail bed had been cut into the rock. It was 106 degrees, and I guess the cold-blooded lizard was storing up heat for the coming winter.
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