Lizard Shoots Blood Out Of Eye As Defense Mechanism (VIDEO)

This is one lizard that you wouldn't want to make angry.

While it may look harmless enough using its quick tongue to snatch up helpless ants, which make up 90% of its diet according to National Geographic, it brings out the big guns when threatened with becoming someone's dinner.

No, that bright red substance that this horned lizard can literally shoot from its eye in a pressurized jet isn't poisonous; it's just plain, old blood. But that blood is enough to freak out most foes.

See what happens when this lizard uses its secret weapon on a coyote in this video from National Geographic.

WATCH:

Comments

[missouriwatcher]

05:35 PM on 11/13/2010

As a kid growing up in West Texas, I played with horned toad lizards a lot.  They were slow and easy to catch; however, all of us familiar with this lizard were aware that if it were stressed sufficiently, it would shoot blood out of its eyes--a pretty damned-good defense tactic.

[JDIQ]

06:13 PM on 11/12/2010

What's wrong with you people? Do you really need some overly complicated reason to expplain why predators would run from such a creature. Any animal that sprays blood from its eyes is a creep fest.

[Bogstomper2]

08:43 AM on 11/12/2010

Next week on HuffPo, an AWESOME video of milk coming our of a cow! And an AMAZING video of a squirrel that FLIES! And the FUNNIEST VIDEO EVER of a sleeping puppy!

Maybe if HuffPo spent less time promoting YouTube videos, they would have enough time to add an actual science section. Just my opinion, of course...

[Genders]

09:56 PM on 11/11/2010

I'd check em for Hepatitis.

[BooksInJapanese]

04:30 PM on 11/10/2010

to me the verb you used "shoots" to describe the action is wrong. What about "spray"....

[amalocha]

12:04 AM on 11/11/2010

Nah, I think "squirt" would be more appropriate. "Spray" is more misty and less accurate.

[BlairCase]

04:12 PM on 11/10/2010

The horned lizards are called 'horn toads" or "horned frogs" in Texas (Yes, we know they are really lizards.) A horned frogs is the Texas Christian University (TCU) mascot. The "Horn Frogs" are currently ranked #3 in the BCS standings. The team's helmet has a red streak that represents blood shooting from the Horned Frog's eyes. They are harmless and eat ants. Little kids play with them.

[electricladyland]

03:03 PM on 11/10/2010

Keep that frog or lizard or whatever that thing is far away from me. Thank you.

[getsit]

05:17 PM on 11/10/2010

No big deal. There are worse things in the world. This little guy is harmless.

[moose and squirrel]

02:59 PM on 11/10/2010

For a moment there I thought this was about Mitch McConnell

[OutAtFirst]

02:35 PM on 11/10/2010

You can do it too, all it takes is a couple of shots of Jack Daniels and a knitting needle.

[ADRealist]

12:08 PM on 11/10/2010

I don't understand how squirting blood at a predator who was already planning on eating you will scare it away.

*Lizard*: "Squirt"
*Coyote*: Oh God I thought you were a vegatable - that's discusting! *Runs Away*... huh.

On another note:

Wish I could read nature stories without comments from users mostly based in the United States that doesnt go along the lines of, "See this is proof that the earth was created by an old man in the sky who will send you to hell if you don't love him!."

I have faith in humanity and my own people that someday, somehow we will finally grow up into the 21st century. Until then, it's like living with a retarded cousin that you always have to be nice too.

[Ainsaade]

03:27 PM on 11/10/2010

Maybe the blood smells, or has pheromones that freak out the predator?

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

03:55 PM on 11/10/2010

Hot to the predator getting the blood in it's eyes. Most animals wouldn't be too happy with blood in their eyes.

[getsit]

05:20 PM on 11/10/2010

I suspect the blood smells in some way. I've held a horned toad and the little guys are really spiny. Might not be worth the eat or the hassle. Remember that ants are full of chemicals including formic acid. This little guy probably reeks of it because it's his primary source of food.

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

03:54 PM on 11/10/2010

The blood is very hot and startles the predator. It's basically a disgust reaction similar to how the sea cucumber works although with that the very hungry predators eat the shot out guts that the sea cucumber regenerates.

[ADRealist]

04:10 PM on 11/10/2010

Haha. It's like Love. If they are too willing and the chase ends abruplty the aggressor loses interest.

[deepfreezevideo]

11:04 AM on 11/10/2010

This is ALMOST enough to make doubt some parts of evolutionary theory because one would think that coyotes would become smart enough to ignore the shooting blood!

[dbeez]

02:49 PM on 11/10/2010

Eventually they will - however, it's not a "Smart Enough" thing.

Those that ignore it and eat the thing anyhow will have more energy and reproduce more.

[NGC 224]

02:56 PM on 11/10/2010

Evolution isn't a "learning" process. It's a process that occurs at the genetic level over thousands or hundreds of thousands of years.

[heroine addict]

09:54 AM on 11/10/2010

Awesomesauce!!

[moonflowerjewelry]

09:18 AM on 11/10/2010

Growing up in southern NM we had tons of "horny toads" which would squirt blood if you tried to catch them. It's pretty cool, and boy did it make me jump the first time it happened. My ex told me that I was making it up.

[Matthew Harrold]

09:42 AM on 11/10/2010

Anyone with an interest in reptiles will know about horned lizards, or access to BBC wildlife documentaries. :)

[Smirk]

08:02 AM on 11/10/2010

There times when this ability would nice to have.

[doodlebug2]

07:53 AM on 11/10/2010

big deal, all politicians and lawyers do this

[getsit]

05:22 PM on 11/10/2010

NO, they take your blood. They are vampires.