It squirts toxic blood from its eyes, has armoured spiky skin and can self-inflate to twice its size. Is this one of the weirdest animals on the planet?

You might think the world’s most powerful lizard is the Komodo dragon – the largest and heaviest lizard in the world, with a venomous bite to boot.

But power isn’t always about size – and the world’s weirdest lizard has special powers that allows it to wield superiority over potential predators.

Meet the North American horned lizard, the world’s weirdest lizard

North American horned lizards – also known as horny toads – are just 9cm in length, yet are equipped with an impressive arsenal of novel, powerful defences.

They boast excellent camouflage; have armoured, spiky skin; and can inflate their bodies to double their size.

But their real super-power is their ability to shoot blood – loaded with foul toxins gleaned from a diet of venomous ants – from their eyes, to a distance of up to nine times their body length.

So precise is their aim that these little lizards can see off wolves and coyotes many times their size, blasting the predators square in the face.

This article by Alex Morss was first published by Discover Wildlife on 14 October 2025. Lead Image: Getty Images.

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