horned toad
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of lizard: A small, insect-eating lizard characterized by having horn-like spines on its head and a body covered in spiny scales. It is native to western North America.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The horned toad is not actually a toad but a lizard.
- We saw a horned toad basking on a rock in the Arizona desert.
- Despite its fierce appearance, the horned toad is generally harmless to humans.
Advanced Usage
- "Horned toad" as a cultural symbol: In some regions of the southwestern United States, the horned toad is a familiar and iconic creature of the desert landscape, often featured in folklore and as a symbol of the region.
- The horned toad is a common figure in stories from the American Southwest.
Variants and Related Words
- Horned lizard (n): The more precise scientific and common name for the same group of reptiles. "Horned toad" is a colloquial name.
- Biologists prefer the term "horned lizard" to avoid confusion with amphibians.
- Horny toad (n): A common informal variant of "horned toad."
Synonyms
- Horned lizard: The direct synonym and more accurate term.
- Horny toad: A casual, regional synonym.
Notes on Meaning
- Important Distinction: Although called a "toad," this animal is a reptile (a lizard), not an amphibian (like a true toad). The name comes from its toad-like flattened, rounded body shape.
Noun
- insectivorous lizard with hornlike spines on the head and spiny scales on the body; of western North America