Thorny Devil is a lizard endemic to the arid scrubland and desert of central Australia, the sole member of its genus Moloch, and it grows to about 21 centimeters long. Its body is covered entirely in conical spines, and its ridged scales can collect water by capillary action and channel it directly to its mouth, an adaptation that lets it drink by simply touching a wet surface; it feeds almost exclusively on ants, eating thousands in a single day.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to PeopleEcotourism and Research 1 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Moloch horridus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Moloch horridus
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyEconomic Importance for Humans: Positive
Thorny devils are popular in zoos because of their extreme morphology.
Primary Diet, Moloch horridus
Primary Diet carnivore carnivore
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
View the Source 2. Wikipedia: Thorny devil
system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The thorny devil (Moloch horridus), also known commonly as the mountain devil, thorny lizard, thorny dragon, and moloch, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae.
Infobox: status
LC
View the Source3. Thorny Devil (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q320665 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Agamidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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