Thorny Dragon

Lore & Background

The thorny devil was first described by the biologist John Edward Gray in 1841. While it is the only species contained in the genus Moloch, many taxonomists suspect another species might remain to be found in the wild. The thorny devil is only distantly related to the morphologically similar North American horned lizards of the genus Phrynosoma, a similarity usually thought of as an example of convergent evolution. The names given to this lizard reflect its appearance: the two large horned scales on its head complete the illusion of a dragon or devil. The name Moloch was used for a deity of the ancient Near East, usually depicted as a hideous beast. The thorny devil also has other nicknames such as the "devil lizard", "horned lizard", and the "thorny toad".

In Their Own Story

The thorny devil lives in the arid scrubland and desert that covers most of central Australia, including sandplain and sandridge desert in the deep interior and the mallee belt. Its habitat coincides more with regions of sandy loam soils than with a particular climate in Western Australia. The lizard's unusual gait involves freezing and rocking as it moves about slowly in search of food, water, and mates. It also features a spiny "false head" on the back of its neck, which it presents to potential predators by dipping its real head. The "false head" is made of soft tissue.

Reader's Guide

The thorny devil mainly subsists on ants, especially Ochetellus flavipes and other species in the Camponotus, Ectatomma, Iridomyrmex (especially Iridomyrmex rufoniger), Monomorium, Ochetellus, Pheidole, or Polyrhachis genera. Thorny devils often eat thousands of ants in one day. The female lays a clutch of three to ten eggs between September and December, placing them in a nesting burrow about 30 cm underground. The eggs hatch after about three to four months. The thorny devil can live for 15 to 20 years. Predators include wild birds and goannas.

Did You Know?

• The thorny devil grows up to 21 cm (8.3 in) in total length, including the tail.
• Females are generally larger than males.
• The thorny devil can live for 15 to 20 years.
• It collects water through capillary action in channels between its scales, transporting it to its mouth.
• The thorny devil lays a clutch of three to ten eggs between September and December.