HORNED TOAD, the common name of North American lizards of the genus Plirynosoma. There are 17 species, of which 10 occur in the arid regions of the western United States and the remainder in similar situations in Mexico. They are short-legged, flat-bodied, harmless creatures of grotesque appearance. The hinder border of the head is armed with long, sharp, hornlike spines; the sides of the body and tail are often similarly pro tected. Upon these more or less erectile spines they depend chiefly for defence. The horned toads inhabit arid plains, deserts and dry forests, and feed chiefly upon insects. The eggs are retained within the body of the female until ready to hatch. The common horned toad (P. cornutum), one of the largest species, is about 6 in. long, with a body width of 21 inches. It is abundant in high arid plains from western Nebraska and eastern Colorado south ward to Texas. Other similar species, some of which are less than 4 in. long, are found from Wyoming to Washington and southward to Mexico.