Okay, it wasn’t actually a attractive toad. That’s simply what we referred to as them after I was a child. What I truly noticed was a horned lizard. And it was simply so stunning. I can rely on one hand the variety of horned lizards I’ve seen; the primary was within the reptile home on the San Diego Zoo. The most recent had been throughout a tenting journey up close to Lynx Lake no less than fifteen years in the past. The one I noticed the opposite day was subsequent to the put up workplace in Cornville; I may not have seen it in any respect if it hadn’t hopped onto a rock simply as I used to be walking by. I ended to get a more in-depth look, and it simply sat there calmly gazing again at me with glittery little eyes. Looking like a tiny, fearless dinosaur. Or maybe a dragon. It was greater than the horned lizards I’d seen beforehand, perhaps 5 to 6 inches from the tip of it is nostril to the tip of it is tail. It’s physique regarded practically as huge as my palm.
It was simply merely beautiful and ideal. I crouched down as a lot as I’m capable of today, and it tilted it is head to look proper again at me. Meeting this creature was a magical expertise for me; I wished very a lot to carry it in my hand. I did not even attempt, as a result of I do know full properly that wildlife is greatest appreciated whereas sustaining a respectful distance. I’m glad now that I had a little bit of restraint, as a result of after I regarded it up later on-line I realized that this tiny dragon has a type of self-defense superpower. When camouflage, spikes, and scooting away aren’t sufficient to discourage predators, a horned lizard that feels threatened can reply by taking pictures blood from it is eyes. Seriously! It can change the move of it is blood inside it is head, and hearth off streams of gore within the face of no matter is harassing it. As far as three to 5 ft!
The one I noticed is known as a regal horned lizard. They might be present in Arizona, Mexico, and components of California and New Mexico. They have a reasonably specialised weight loss plan; they eat ants! Horned lizards of assorted species might be discovered all around the contiguous US; their populations have been in decline for the same old reasons- lack of habitat, predation by invasive species, and pesticides. For some time again within the seventies in Texas, they have been harvested mercilessly for the pet commerce; many hundreds of horned lizards ended up in pet outlets. And as a result of their dietary wants have been poorly understood, most died shortly after.
Horned lizards seem in historical and fashionable Native American tales and artwork. Sometimes they’re identified by names which translate, kind of, as horntoad or horn toad.
One Navajo delusion describes how Grandfather Horn Toad (who can also be referred to as Grandfather Cheii- one of many first 4 Holy People, and a non secular grandfather of the Navajo folks) defeated Lightning in a feud which culminated in single fight. Three occasions Lightning despatched his bolts straight down with the intent to destroy Horn Toad; every time, Horn Toad rolled his huge, flat physique to the facet, making for a a lot narrower goal. Three occasions Lightning struck at him, and failed. On the fourth attempt, Horn Toad caught Lightning’s bolt on his many spikes, shattering it into bent items flying out in all instructions. Grandfather Horn Toad gained the battle, and to at the present time Lightning is forked and bent and unfold in regards to the sky.
After admiring that stunning horned lizard for no less than fifteen minutes I ultimately moved on and entered the put up workplace. On my means again out I noticed it was nonetheless there. Perched on it is rock, basking within the sunshine. I ended as soon as extra, bent down, and softly thanked it for the reward of letting me see it, and freely permitting my pleasure in it is presence. It tilted it is head to look once more at me; I whispered the little blessing I say for each wild creature I encounter. I discussed that I hoped we would meet once more sometime. And went again home happier than I used to be after I left.
Thank you for studying. This is an open thread, all matters are welcome.
