Thorney Devils

This gorgeous dragon is anything but horrid. This is the only species in this Genus.

This dragon isn't very big but it is unique.

It is approx 100mm in length from snout to vent with the females being larger.

It lives in arid and semi-arid sandy regions with hummock grasslands, heathlands, spinifex and in WA mallee woodlands.

The Thorny/Mountain Devil is diurnal.

Photographed at Tutanning Nature Reserve in the wheatbelt in November

Tutanning Nature Reserve WA

In Western Australia it is found from the mid-west coast through to the arid Interior. They do not live as far south as Perth.

I found this thorny devil to be spikier than the one at the Alice Springs Desert show.

Notice how this thorny has yellow markings to match the sand it was found in and the one from Alice Springs matches the redder sand.

Go Here to see our video of this dragon moon-walking. Its as almost if the Thorny goes to sleep in between taking steps.

Go Here to see our video of this dragon running.

Tutanning Nature Reserve WA

Photographed at the Uluru "Predators of the Desert" show NT

Tutanning Nature Reserve WA

Here the Thorny/Mountain Devil was dragging its abdomen across the sand for approx one minute, I don't know why, not long after it went to the toilet.

The Thorny Devil can move its tail up or down and usually has its tail held high when walking.

I observed the Thorny/Mountain Devil walking both with a rocking motion and other times, when it was walking faster, it just walked forward.

Photographed at Alice Springs Desert Park NT

Tracks

These are the tracks of the Thorny/Mountain Devil

Photographed at Alice Springs Desert Park NT

When I put the video through my slow motion software you could see what long strides this lizard takes when its walking, its hind legs stretch out to full length and it pushes off on its toes.

Natures Marvel

Not only does this reptile look unique it also has a unique way of drinking. Research say's that this dragon stands in puddles and channels the water up to the top of its head between the spines, and then channels it to the corners of the mouth. This means the water is going up, to my knowledge we as humans can't make water go up without a mechanical aid or suction.

What does it eat?

Feeds mostly on small black ants Iridomyrmex flavipes. I observed the Thorny Devil taking ants from the ground and from the plants. The Thorny Devil wont eat too many ants in a row as it wants the ant trail to continue so it will eat some and leave some. Sometimes the ants were crawling all over the Thorny as it dozed.

If you think the head would be hard to swallow as a predator imagine trying to swallow this tail. Photographed at the Uluru "Predators of the Desert" show NT

Like other reptiles the Thorny Devil relies on the sun to raise its body temperature. When the Thorny is warming itself it lies down on the ground.

They have approx 8 eggs per clutch from September to December.

Burrows

It shelters beneath bushes or in burrows that it digs with its back feet.

Here there are two burrows but as these are in captivity I am unsure if they would naturally place their burrows so close to each other. At this visit there were two Thorny Devils in this enclosure.

Photographed at the Alice Springs Desert Park

Two Thorny devils were found at Mt Matilda in the Wongan Hills, wheatbelt on the same day in December.

Here you can see how beautifully patterned it is on its belly.

This dragon measured 9cm long from snout to vent

This dragon measured 10cm long from snout to vent

Habitat

Mt Matilda Wongan Hills Wheatbelt

Can you see the Thorny Devil on the track. It is so well camouflaged with its habitat that I nearly stood on it