Thorny Devils

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The thorny devil is known by a variety of different names, such as the thorny dragon, thorny lizard, mountain devil, and moloch. Did you know that it is the only animal in the genus Moloch?

Looks

Thorny devils are a small, grey brown desert lizard covered with spiky armour. On the back of their necks is a “false head.” They display this to enemies by tipping their actual head. Its spikes protect it against its predators and help it to camouflage, also collecting dew in the ridges and moving the water to the mouth using grooves between the spikes. Their colours change, lighter in hotter weather and dark in cold. In all, the thorny devil is a cleverly created creature.

Habitat

These lizards live in the scrubland and desert areas throughout central Australia, and therefore it makes use of the spinifex clumps common in the regions.

Feeding

Thorny devils mostly eat ants. They eat many, many of them in a single day. It can drink in water from any part of its body.

Breeding

In the breeding season, September to December, Females lay three to ten eggs in a burrow. After three or four months, the eggs hatch. At only a couple days old, the babies have dig their way out of the sand and into the world.

Predators

Birds, goannas, and humans. Buzzards hunt these lizards for prey.

Lifetime

About 20 years. At 3 years old Thorny Devils reach maturity.

Thorny Devils are endangered animals. Humans have been protecting their nests by putting wire around them, keeping enemies away from the newborn lizards.

Watch this great video about these cool lizards!