Greenspeak

By Rebecca Evered, Curriculum & Content Director, Greenspeak International

Thorny Devils (Moloch horridus) are a type of lizard that is found in the deserts of Australia. They are camouflaged, with patches of grey and brown to blend in with their surroundings and have spikes over the top side of their body. The species lives in arid scrub and desert over most of central Australia. In particular, it inhabits spinifex (a type of dry grass) and sand deserts within the interior. They eat ants and can consume more than a thousand in one day.

They grow up to 20cm long, and can live to be 20 years old. Females are larger than males, and lay a clutch of three to ten eggs in September-December (Australian spring-summer) in a nesting burrow about 30 cm underground. The eggs hatch after an incubation of three to four months.

Thorny Devils have many adaptations to help them in their desert life. In addition to being camouflaged with defensive spikes, they have a false head on the back of their neck that they show to predators. These include birds such as buzzards, and large carnivorous lizards called goannas. They can collect water from all over their body, as there are special channels between their spikes that direct the water towards their mouth.