REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: AGAMIDAE: Moloch

Moloch horridus Author and date

Moloch/Thorny Devil

Photo & text by R.G. Sprackland, Ph.D.

Range: The central desert outback of Australia.

Diagnosis: A small lizard with a spiny egg-shaped body, short tail, and a large spined sphere on the neck.

Description:

Natural History: Molochs are found in extremely hot desert habitats. They feed upon hundreds of ants at a time, picking off the insects as they rush by. Because the diet is made entirely of ants, molochs do not fare well in captivity. Almost all of a moloch's water comes from metabolic conversion of food, but a remarkable capillary system in the skin channels external water--such as dew--to the lips for drinking.

Reproduction: Lays eggs.

Taxonomy & Relationships: There are no close relatives.

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

Literature:

Hutchins, Michael. 1987. Desert Devil. Animal Kingdom 90(6): 12-17.