Texas Horned Lizard Essay
Along with being found in the same habitat the Bobwhite Quail and Texas Horned lizard are both found at the bottom of the food chain. These two animals are prey items for a very wide array of animals. Bobwhite nests are commonly predated upon and this is why the nesting cover aspect of the habitat management is so important. Habitat managers are now even able to determine what animals are predating Bobwhite nests by how the eggs are broken and/or arranged after being eaten (Hernandez et al 1997). A well known avian predator, the Roadrunner (Geococcyx) is known to eat just about anything including Texas Horned Lizards and Bobwhite Quail eggs making it an arch enemy of many ranchers (Sherbrooke 1990). One of the most brutal predators these animals face is the Shrike (Laniidae) commonly called the “Butcher Bird”. This is because it impales its prey onto barbwire, cactus,
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or anything with a sharp point where it then rips flesh from its prey (Figure6) (Jack 1991 & Yosef & Pinshow 2005). Snakes are also an important group of predators for both of these species. The most popular are rattlesnakes (Crotalus) which include Bobwhite and their eggs into their diet (Rokyta 2011).
They often eat Horned Lizards and other reptiles but, there is a documented case of a rattlesnake being killed by a Texas Horned Lizard’s spines while trying to ingest it (Vorhies 1948). Mammalian predators include infamous animals such as the coyote, bobcat, raccoon, and possum. This long list even includes invasive animals such as the feral pig. Like their avian and reptile counterparts these predators usually predate both the animal and their eggs (Hernandez et al 1997). Last but not least the biggest predators these animals face are human. This comes in many different forms such as urbanization, mass agriculture, introducing invasive species, and directly hunting or killing these animals. With their cryptic behavior discussed earlier Texas Horned Lizards are often run over along roadsides while thermo regulating (Moeller et al 2005). Hunting is historically known for causing the demise of several animals, but in today’s laws prevent this. In retrospect the popularity and nostalgia associated with hunting Bobwhite Quail and catching horned toads is what has created such an effort to preserve
them.
or anything with a sharp point where it then rips flesh from its prey (Figure6) (Jack 1991 & Yosef & Pinshow 2005). Snakes are also an important group of predators for both of these species. The most popular are rattlesnakes (Crotalus) which include Bobwhite and their eggs into their diet (Rokyta 2011).
They often eat Horned Lizards and other reptiles but, there is a documented case of a rattlesnake being killed by a Texas Horned Lizard’s spines while trying to ingest it (Vorhies 1948). Mammalian predators include infamous animals such as the coyote, bobcat, raccoon, and possum. This long list even includes invasive animals such as the feral pig. Like their avian and reptile counterparts these predators usually predate both the animal and their eggs (Hernandez et al 1997). Last but not least the biggest predators these animals face are human. This comes in many different forms such as urbanization, mass agriculture, introducing invasive species, and directly hunting or killing these animals. With their cryptic behavior discussed earlier Texas Horned Lizards are often run over along roadsides while thermo regulating (Moeller et al 2005). Hunting is historically known for causing the demise of several animals, but in today’s laws prevent this. In retrospect the popularity and nostalgia associated with hunting Bobwhite Quail and catching horned toads is what has created such an effort to preserve
them.