Thorny dragon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Thorny devil | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Subfamily: | Agaminae |
| Genus: | Moloch |
| Species: | M. horridus |
| Binomial name | |
| Moloch horridus Gray, 1841 | |
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| Synonyms | |
| Acanthosaura gibbosus | |
The thorny dragon also features a spiny "false head" on the back of its neck, and the lizard presents this to potential predators by dipping its real head. The females are larger than the males. The thorny dragon's body is ridged in structure, and this enables the animal to collect water from any part of its body. That water is then conveyed to its mouth.Browne-Cooper, Robert; Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, David Robinson (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. pp. 46, 65, 158. ISBN 978-1-920694-74-6.
Contents
Description
An intimidating array of spikes cover the entire upper side of the body of the thorny dragon. These thorny scales also help to defend it from predators. Camouflage and deception may also be used to evade predation. This lizard's unusual gait involves freezing and rocking as it moves about slowly in search of food, water, and mates.
Taxonomy and naming
The names given to this lizard reflect its appearance; the two large horned scales on its head complete the illusion of a dragon. Although the name Moloch was formerly used for a deity of the ancient Near East, this name began to be used later in demonology to refer to the fallen angel and Prince of Hell.The thorny dragon was first described in writing by the biologist John Edward Gray in 1841. While it is the only one contained in the genus Moloch, many taxonomists suspect another species might remain to be found in the wild. The thorny dragon is only distantly related to the similar (morphologically speaking) North American horned lizards of the genus Phrynosoma. This similarity is usually thought of as an example of convergent evolution.
Habitat
The habitation of the thorny dragon coincides mostly with the regions of sandy loam soils than with a particular climate in Western Australia.Pianka, E. R. and H. D. Pianka. 1970. The ecology of Moloch horridus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) in Western Australia. Copeia 1970: 90-103.
Self defense
The thorny dragon is covered in hard, rather sharp spines that dissuade attacks by predators by making it difficult to swallow. It also has a false head on its back. When it feels threatened by other animals, it lowers its head between its front legs, and then presents its false head.Diet
The diets of thorny devil mainly subsists on ants, often the Iridomyrmex or the Ochetellus genera. Some reports"Australia's Thorny Devil". Retrieved 2007-10-31. indicate Iridomyrmex flavipes is its primary prey, but this species was renamed Ochetellus flavipes in 1992."Australian Ants Online: Genus Ochetellus". Archived from the original on 2007-08-30. Retrieved 2007-10-31.]Thorny dragons often eat thousands of ants in one day. They collect moisture in the dry desert by the condensation of dew on their bodies at night. This dew forms on its skin, and then it is channelled to its mouth in hygroscopic grooves between its spines.Bentley, P. J. and F. C. Blumer. 1962. Uptake of water by the lizard, Moloch horridus. Nature 194: 699–700. doi:10.1038/194699a0 During rainfalls, capillary action allows the thorny dragon to suck in water from all over its body.
Reproduction and survival
The females lay clutch of three to ten eggs during the September–December season (spring-summer). They put these in a nesting burrow about 30 cm underground. The eggs hatch after about three to four months.Pianka, E. R. 1997. Australia's thorny devil. Reptiles 5(11): 14-23.Predators that consume thorny dragons include wild birds and goannas.
Popular reference
The popular appeal of the thorny dragon is the basis of an anecdotal petty scam. American servicemen stationed in Southwest Australia decades ago (such as during World War II) were supposedly sold the thorny fruits of a species of weeds, the so-called "double gee" (Emex australis), but those were called "thorny devil eggs" as a part of the scam.Thorny devils have been kept in captivity.
References
- Science Podcast on belly-water-suction mechanism, 24 August 2007
- Moloch horridus, The Reptile Database
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moloch horridus. |
- Digimorph: Moloch horridus, thorny devil body structure
- Australia's Thorny Devil by Eric R. Pianka
- Thorny Devil, www.kidcyber.com.au
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To the holy : "THORNY DRAGON - LIZARD" - the holy anole has hidden into a hole...!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anole_lizard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorny_dragon
...and because of the sin of Eve and Adam, as the woman was more stupid, This |God condemned them to thorns and sweat...!
Genesis 3
18 "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field;
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