hey, horny toadLet lunch come closer.
The lizard stays still beside an ant trail. When an ant comes within reach, it moves in for the catch.
DOWN AT LIZARD LEVEL
What do horny toads eat?
Ants are the main course. And catching one is quicker than you might think.
Watch closely—it’s lunchtime.
An ant crosses the sandy ground. A horned lizard waits nearby. Replay the animation and watch what happens next.
ON THE MENU
Ants are the
main course.
For a Texas horned lizard, harvester ants make up much of the menu. These seed-gathering ants are an important part of life down on the ground.
They’re not the only food. Texas horned lizards also eat other small prey, including beetles and spiders. The menu can vary with what’s available.
Food facts: Texas Parks & Wildlife · Oklahoma wildlife department
A QUICK TONGUE, A PRECISE STRIKE
Wait. Watch. Flick!
A carefully aimed flick.
High-speed recordings show that Texas horned lizards usually target an ant’s middle, avoiding its biting head and stinging rear.
Down in one.
They swallow ants whole. Thick mucus coats and immobilizes the ants as they pass into the throat.
Feeding behavior: Oklahoma wildlife department · High-speed feeding study, 2021
FROM THE GROUND TO THE STORYBOOK
Breakfast
with Torito.
Torito’s adventure begins at breakfast with his family—and ants are on the menu.
That storybook meal has a real-life connection. Texas horned lizards depend on harvester ants for much of their food. Hank, Rosa, and Torito bring that little piece of nature into a family story.
Meet Torito’s Big AdventureONE MORE LOOK
How much did you notice?
Where was the ant? How still was the lizard? Watch again and see what you spot.