Thorny Devils (lizard)

The thorny devil has sharp spikes which not only serve to protect it from some predators, but have the useful function of helping channel water towards the thorny devil's mouth. Water which lands on the Thorny Devil's back, whether it be overnight condensation or rain, runs along tiny grooves on the animal's body to the corner of its mouth. It moves along these grooves by a capillary action set in motion by gulping. The Thorny devil will also rub itself up against vegetation in the early morning to collect condensation on its thorns.

Adult male thorny devils typically weigh between 75 and 90 grams, with females tending to be heavier.

Consumers.

Thorny devils reproduce by laying eggs. They lay between 3 and 10 ten eggs at a time, underground, during Australia's spring-summer season. The eggs hatch around 3-4 months later. The parents have no part in raising the young thorny devils, which are capable of looking after themselves as soon as they dig their way back to the surface after hatching.

The thorny devil's scales change color due to seasonal changes. Also, differences in temperature affect them. This makes these animals seem almost invisible to predators, which gives them a better chance for survival. However, if they do get faced with a predator they tuck their heads under their body and reveal a "fake head." This is essentially a ball of spikes located behind their actual head. If a predator goes for this they get a mouthful of spines. So they have other defense mechanisms in addition to camouflage.

Alot of things might happen once its ecosystem changed.

i am thinking of getting a thorny devil but don't know how much it will be.

no, the thorny devil is diurnal because it is active during the day.

As the thorny devil is not endangered, there are no accurate figures available on its population. Websites that state the thorny devil is endangered, with around 1000 reptiles remaining, are incorrect.

Thorny devils are Australian reptiles. Specifically, they are lizards specially adapted to live in dry conditions. The upper part of their bodies are covered with sharp spikes which serve two functions: defence, and to channel all moisture towards their mouth.

The Thorny Devil lives in the desert and semi-arid outback regions of Australia. Also sometimes known as the Moloch, it is mostly found in the western two-thirds of the continent, through Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia.

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) is an Australian lizard. It is also known as the Thorny Dragon, Mountain Devil, Thorny Lizard, or the Moloch and is the sole species of genus Moloch. It grows up to 20 cm (8 in) in length and can live up to 20 years, coloured in camouflaging shades of desert browns and tans; these change from pale colours when warm to darker colours when cold. The species is entirely covered with conical spines that are mostly uncalcified. It also features a spiny "false-head" on the back of the neck, the animal presents this to a potential predator by dipping its real head. Females are larger than males. The Thorny Devil's body is ridged in structure, and enables the animal to collect water from any part of its body, which is then channelled to the mouth. The thorny devils is covered in hard, somewhat sharp spines to dissuade predators by making it difficult to swallow. It also has a false head on its back: when it feels threatened it lowers its head between its front legs, and only the false head is visible. An intimidating array of spikes cover the entire upper side of the body, these thorny scales are a defense against predators. Camouflage and deception may also be used to evade predation. It has an unusual gait, involving freezing and rocking, as it slowly moves in search of its preferred diet.The names of this dragon are given for its appearance, two large horned scales on the head complete the allusion to a devil. The species was described by John Edward Gray in 1841. While the species is the only one contained by the genus Moloch, taxonomists believe that another species may yet be described.[1] The thorny devil is only distantly related to the morphologically similar North American horned lizards of the genus Phrynosoma, and is more an example of convergent evolution. It inhabits arid scrub and desert over most of central Australia. In particular, it inhabits spinifex (triodia) sandplain and sandridge desert within the interior and mallee belt. Its distribution largely coincides more with the distribution of sandy and sandy loam soils than with a particular climate in western Australia(Pianka and Pianka 1970).

Thorny devils travel very slowly. They have an awkward gait, as they lift their tail and walk with a stuttering, jerky movement, one step at a time.

actually a thorny devil can make a great pet there actually just like bearded dragon

It damage the thorny devil.

It is not recommended. The purpose of the thorns is to deter predators, but the spikes themselves are softer than expected.

the thorny devil dozen need any water because go its spikes its spikes give it every thing ager does

primary consumer im thinking

the thorny devil has spines and an impermeable skin to save all water, it also secretes urine that has had all the water taken out by a special function in the liver. the water is mainly absorbed through the skin and when its in its burrow the walls trap the water lost by respiration and the devil can then collect this water again

Thorny devils are unusual lizards, covered all over with sharp thorn-like protuberances. They are not the sort of lizard one is encouraged to pick up - hence the name, devil. They are best avoided.

The thorny devil is not considered to be endangered, so there is no information on how many live in the wild. They can be found in dry habitats in Australia.

The biome of a thorny devil is the desert.

Thorny devils are native to the deserts and inland, arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. They are not restricted to just the hot northern regions, but are also found throughout the southern deserts where the temperatures get very cold at night in winter.

Thorny devils are found where the soil is sandy, such as the spinifex sandplain and sandridge deserts. However, they are also found in the mallee region of southern South Australia and southwestern Western Australia, where mallee scrub is plentiful.

Thorny devils are unusual lizards, covered all over with sharp thorn-like protuberances. They are not the sort of lizard one is encouraged to pick up - hence the name, devil. They are best avoided.

The Australian thorny devil is covered with soft spines. When water lands on the thorny devil's back, whether by rain or just overnight dew, it runs down the reptile's spines and along thousands of tiny grooves, which carry the water to the corners of the thorny devil's mouth. Its colouring ranges from yellow to reddish-brown to black, depending upon which type of soil it is crossing. It is able to use camouflage as protection, because it can change colour to match the soil beneath it. This also helps its survival.

The thorny devil's thorns, or spikes, serve several functions. The thorny devil has thorns/spikes on its back that help it to ward off predators in its environment. It has an extra protuberance on the back of its head which may appear to be like a second head to would-be predators.

These spikes have another function, and that is to help channel water towards the thorny devil's mouth. Water which lands on the Thorny Devil's back, whether it be overnight condensation or rain, runs along tiny grooves on the animal's body to the corner of its mouth. It moves along these grooves by a capillary action set in motion by gulping. The Thorny devil will also rub itself up against vegetation in the early morning to collect condensation on its thorns.

Thorny devils lay between 3 and 10 ten eggs at a time, underground, during Australia's spring-summer season.