Thorny Devil
Thorny Devil
Reptile
A small Australian lizard covered entirely in sharp, conical spines.
💡 Fun Facts
- They have a 'false head' on the back of their neck that they present to predators while hiding their real head.
- The microscopic grooves between their scales channel dew and rain straight to their mouths.
- They eat almost exclusively ants, consuming up to 3,000 in a single day.
Name Story
Moloch horridus
means “the bristling demon”
What does its name mean?
- Moloch — a fearsome demon-god of ancient legend, linked with fire and terrorCanaanite/biblical
- horridus — bristling, dreadfulLatin — the root of our word 'horrid'
With a name meaning 'the bristling demon', you would expect a monster — and it is covered head to tail in sharp spines. Yet this little Australian desert lizard is utterly harmless, pottering about gently eating nothing but ants.