Why does this desert lizard launch jets of blood from its own eyes?
In short: The horned lizard, sometimes called a horned toad, possesses a bizarre and effective defense mechanism. This video explores the biology behind its ability to spray blood from its eyes, offering a rare look at the specimens held within the Natural History Museum's extensive reptile collection.
Museum scientist Marco Camaiti examines the horned lizard, a reptile known for its unique survival strategy. While these creatures are often referred to as horned toads, they are lizards that have evolved to defend themselves by shooting blood directly from their ocular regions.
The Natural History Museum in London maintains a vast collection of over 80 million items, ranging from dinosaur remains to meteorites. This video utilizes the museum's specialized reptile archives to explain the mechanics of this defensive behavior and the broader context of the lizard's natural history.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Meet the reptile that shoots blood from its eyes | A closer look at horned lizards
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