Nature Notes - Thorny Devil

Features

The Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) has spiny orange yellow and black skin with a pretend second head on the back of its neck. They lift their tail and walk along with slow, jerky motion like a wind-up toy.

Adaptations

The Thorny Devil is diurnal (active during the day time).

The spikes all over their bodies help them get a drink of water in the dry sand country. In the mornings they rub up against dew drops on the spinifex and the mositure runs between the spikes along grooves that run directly into their mouths.

Habitat

Thorny Devils live in the sand country of Central Australia.

Wild Status

Common

Diet

Thorny Devils live on a diet of nothing but small black ants. They feed in the cooler mornings and late afternoon. When they locate a trail of ants they licks them up with their short, sticky tongue.  Scientists calculate that Thorny Devils might eat a thousand or more ants in a single meal.

Predators

Aerial predators such as Brown Falcons prey on Thorny Devils.

Home

Thorny Devils live in a shallow burrow.

Life Span

Thorny Devils can live up to 15 years.

Size

Thorny Devils grow up to 15cm long. The females are larger than the males as they produce eggs.

Compare with the Horned Lizard of the Sonoran Desert.