Some animal adaptations look like they were designed by a committee of mad scientists. The greater short-horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)-Wyoming's state reptile, also dubbed the "horny toad" ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. In the arid plains and rocky deserts of North America, a ...

STAMFORD — There’s probably not much chance that if you grew up in Texas and are of a certain age that you didn’t catch and keep a horned lizard as a pet. Of course, you called it a horny toad because ...

KENEDY, Texas — "We couldn't wait to get home, change our clothes and go play with the Horned Toads," says Lisa Yaklin. She grew up in Kenedy, Texas... now designated as the 'Horned Toad Capital of ...

Why they're awesome: Greater short-horned lizards have a squat, flat shape and short snouts, which makes them look more like amphibians than reptiles — hence the nickname "horny toads." But these ...

BLANCO COUNTY — A crowd of people gathered to watch as the tiny lizards took their first, cautious steps, tentatively testing the sandy soil beneath their feet. The young Texas horned lizards paused ...

Whether you refer to them as horned frogs, horny toads or by their official name — the Texas horned lizard — there's a chance you may know these native reptiles. Your grandkids, however, might not.

Oklahoma's scorching summer temperatures may cause many wildlife to retreat, but species like the Texas horned lizard enjoy soaking in the sun's rays. "Summer is the best season to watch for reptiles ...

When my grandson Parker was 11 years old, he called me from a coastal island with exciting news. Problem was I took the call outside a restaurant with people jabbering and at a spot where I had a ...