Ghost Crabs? Got ‘Em. Blue crabs? Them too. Palmetto bugs? Yikes – but definitely. What about horned toads? Well, maybe.
Although not native to the Lowcountry, these odd little creatures, technically lizards and not toads, were abundant on the island in the 1950s and ’60s. And it was always a thrill, especially for kids, to discover and catch one. It is assumed that they were first introduced to the island during the early 20th century by the U.S. Army personnel who relocated to Fort Moultrie from Texas where they are typically found. Eventually, the small reptiles crossed over to the Isle of Palms, too.
The horned lizards, as they are also called, resemble frogs due to their oval body shape. For defense, they exhibit a pair of horns on the head and several ridges of spikes (which are really soft scales) running along the back. Their tan, gray or reddish-brown color allows for camouflage in the sand. And to appear larger and less appealing to prey, they gulp air to inflate their bodies. In an even more unusual display, they can excrete trace amounts of blood from the corners of their eyes. All these characteristics may work well for them to avoid the enemy in the animal kingdom, but they are exactly the traits that make them fascinating to children.
Sullivan’s Island resident Josephine Humphreys recalled, “They are soft and friendly and like to have their tummy rubbed! Well, they probably don’t like it at all, but they’ll hold still while you do it. And they don’t bite, which the green lizards do.”
But a former Isle of Palms resident has a different memory: “I was always afraid of them. So, my brothers caught one of those creatures and held me down and made me pet it. To this day I am still petrified of any creature close to those disgusting things.”
Horned toads largely disappeared from the islands over the decades and were perhaps a casualty of Hurricane Hugo. But it’s also possible that a reduction in harvester ants, their primary food source, has been the cause of their demise, since they have no appetite for fire ants (also the bane of our existence!). However, in recent years, a few have again been spotted on the islands, causing another former resident to suggest that “Mother Nature may be going to be nice so our grandkids can see what scared us!”
By Mary Coy
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