Squirt!

It’s a hot day in the desert. A horned lizard lounges in the sun. Everything seems peaceful.

Suddenly, a snake approaches. Snakes hunt reptiles like this horned lizard. Uh-oh. 

The lizard tries to stay as still as a statue and blend into its sandy surroundings. But it’s too late. The snake sees it and slithers closer.

With nowhere else to go, the lizard uses its greatest defense. Squirt! The lizard sprays a jet of red liquid straight out of its eyes. The shocked snake slithers away. What was that strange substance? Blood!

You might be wondering why this horned lizard shoots blood from its eyes. (You also might be thinking: Gross!) The lizard lives in constant danger. Besides snakes, animals like hawks, wolves, and coyotes hunt the reptile. 

Luckily, the little lizard has powerful defenses­­­—like blasting blood from its eyes! This blood can travel up to 3 feet. That’s pretty far, since most horned lizards are only about 4 inches long. 

 Other animals have amazing tricks for staying safe too. Hagfish shoot slime on their enemies. Turkey vultures vomit on their attackers. (They can barf on an animal from up to 10 feet away!) And some octopuses change the colors of their skin. This helps them blend in with their surroundings and hide from an attack.

Our advice? Don’t mess with these creepy creatures!