Definition

Noun: * A species of lizard, commonly known as the Texas horned lizard. It is a reptile characterized by a flattened, spiny body, a distinctive crown of horns on its head, and the ability to squirt blood from its eyes as a defense mechanism. It is native to arid and semiarid open country in North America.

Usage

• The term 'Phrynosoma cornutum' is the formal, scientific (Latin) name used in biology, zoology, and academic contexts to precisely identify this specific species.
• It is always treated as a singular noun. When referring to multiple individuals, the species name remains 'Phrynosoma cornutum' (e.g., "a study of ").

Examples

• In a scientific paper: "The habitat preferences of were surveyed across three counties."
• In a wildlife guide: "Often called a 'horny toad,' is actually a lizard, not an amphibian."
• In a conservation report: " populations have declined due to habitat loss and the reduction of its primary prey, harvester ants."

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic classification, 'Phrynosoma' is the genus name (always capitalized), and 'cornutum' is the specific epithet (never capitalized). The full binomial name is italicized in print.
• The name 'cornutum' is Latin for "horned," directly describing the animal's most prominent feature.

Variants and Related Words

• Texas horned lizard: The most common English vernacular name.
• Horned lizard / Horned toad: General common names for lizards of the genus . "Horned toad" is a misnomer, as they are reptiles, not amphibians.
• Genus Phrynosoma: The taxonomic group containing all horned lizard species.

Synonyms

• Texas horned lizard
• Horny toad (colloquial, though inaccurate)

Related Phrases / Terms

• Cryptic coloration: Its skin pattern provides camouflage in its native habitat.
• Ant specialist / Myrmecophagous: Describes its diet, which consists almost exclusively of ants.
• Autohaemorrhage / Blood-squirting: Refers to its unique defensive behavior of ejecting blood from its ocular sinuses.

Noun

1. of arid and semiarid open country