Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world.

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 ...

When you think of “gory” animals, creatures like great white sharks, tigers, and vampire bats might come to mind. But the most gruesome defense mechanism of any animal belongs to something much ...

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 ...