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Idaho Fish and Game

Outdoor Kids: Leaping Lizards

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By Kelton Hatch, Idaho Department of Fish & Game With dozens of short horns of every size covering their small, flat, squat-shaped bodies, the short-horned lizard or "horny toad" looks like a make-believe animal right out of the yet-to-be-made movie "Honey, I Shrunk the Jurassic Park." Most short-horned lizards are typically a dark gray, tan, or reddish-brown in color with two rows of darker blotches along their back. Body color often matches the soils where they live to increase their camouflage. Underneath, they are usually white or cream-colored and lack speckling. As their Latin name Phrynosoma (meaning "toad body") implies, short-horned lizards are toad like in appearance. Even as adults they are only small- to medium-sized lizards, averaging in length from 2.6 to 3.9 inches. Though short-horned lizards are known to eat a variety of insects such as beetles, flies, spiders and grasshoppers, ants make up the greatest majority of their diet. If people are looking for an opportunity to find a short-horned lizard, look no farther than the Magic Valley. In particular, these animals prefer dry natural habitats such as sagebrush desert, open pine forest, and pinion-juniper forest and can be found up to 9,000 feet in elevation. They are relatively common in these areas but are very elusive. Valuable tools for finding these critters are patience and a good eye. Even though people can keep up to four lizards as pets, it's not recommended. Short-horned lizards are very delicate, have specific dietary needs, and tend to have a low survival rate in captivity. Kelton Hatch is the regional conservation educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. If you have any suggestions or comments on this column email him at khatch@idfg.idaho.gov or call 208-324-4359.