Reptile · GBIF taxon 2466435
Thorny Devil
Moloch horridusAlso known as Mountain Devil, Thorny Lizard, Thorny Dragon, Moloch
Thorny devils navigate the arid sandplains and scrublands of central Australia with a distinctive, slow-rocking gait designed to mimic windblown vegetation. Their bodies are covered in conical spines, accompanied by a false head knob on the back of the neck that tricks predators when real heads are tucked away. Microscopic grooves between their scales collect dew and rainwater, pulling moisture directly to their mouth corners via capillary action.
ReptileDesertCamouflage
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Black Ants
- Iridomyrmex Ants
Predators
- Bustard
- Goanna
- Feral Cat
ThreatsInvasive predators, vehicle collisions, climate extreme heat
HabitatsArid scrubland, spinifex sandplains, desert
Life span15–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAgamidae
- SpeciesMoloch horridus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observe quietly: They freeze when approached, relying on camouflage for safety.
- Watch feeding sites: Look for individuals stationed along busy ant trails picking off prey.
- Maintain distance: Avoid picking up wild individuals to avoid stress.
Ecological Counterpart Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM / CC0 · cc0
Close Relative (c) Romain Boisseau, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Chris Lindorff, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Chris Lindorff · cc-by
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