Horned Toads Terracotta Style Clay

This is a set of two horned toads or Horned Lizards or Genus Phrynosoma .  They are made of terracotta ceramic clay that has been kiln fired. 
The large horned toad measures approximately 4 3/4" long X 2 3/4" at the widest point.  The smaller horny toad measures approximately 2 1/2" long X 1 1/2" at the widest point.  

Excellent accent for any cactus garden or water pond garden, or even to set around your home or front porch. 

The Legend of Old Rip

In the town of Eastland, Texas, construction began in 1897 to replace the fire damaged courthouse.  Inside the cornerstone of the new courthouse officials placed a Bible and other mementos, County Clerk Ernest Wood added a horned lizard.

 

After 30 years it was decided the courthouse needed to be replaced.  The lifeless horny toad was removed from the cornerstone, but then he twitched, he was still alive.  He was named Rip, as in Rip Van Winkle.

 

Rip was an instant celebrity and toured the country even meeting President Calvin Coolidge.  Unfortunately, Rip passed on less than a year after his release.  Today Rip is on display in the new courthouse.   

A few facts about Horned Toads:

~All members of the genus Phrynosoma, have very wide, flattened, toad-like bodies. The tail is short but broad at the base. In most species, the back of the head and temples are crowned with a prominent row of sharp, pointed horns. The tail and sides are fringed with sharp spines. On some species the sides are adorned with a double fringe of spines. On the back, there are rows of short conical spines.

To the uninitiated, their dragon-like appearance is quite formidable. The squat form and head armor has given rise to the name "hornytoad," "horned toad" and "horned lizards." However, since there is a true toad with horns, it is best that we speak of this genus as the "Horned Lizards."

Their colors are pleasing. The overall colors are generally close to the predominant color of the soil. Color changes from light to dark (or reverse) can occur within a few minutes.

Horned Lizards are found only in the western portions of the United States and Mexico. There are 14 recognized species. They range from Arkansas to the Pacific Coast, and from British Columbia south to Guatemala. These lizards are creatures of hot, dry, sandy environments.~