Animalscaretips
Thorny Devil Behavior During these times, the lizard will dig burrows in the ground and hide. When the animal is active, its daily routine is to emerge from its shrub resting spot and warm itself on the sand. Thorny devils roam a small area to eat ants and defecate. They roam further when they are looking for mates.
- What is the behavior of the thorny devil?
- What is the thorny devil life cycle?
- How do thorny devils stay cool?
- Where can I find thorny devils?
- Why do thorny devils walk like that?
- How does a thorny Lizard drink water?
What is the behavior of the thorny devil?
The thorny devil is diurnal (active during the day time). The spikes all over their bodies help them get a drink of water in the dry sand country. In the mornings they rub up against dew drops on the spinifex and the moisture runs between the spikes along grooves that run directly into their mouths.
What is the thorny devil life cycle?
Life Cycle
After mating in September, female thorny devils lay 3-10 eggs in a burrow about 30cm underground. The eggs hatch after about 3 months. A thorny devil's life span is about 20 years.
How do thorny devils stay cool?
Habitat. Thorny devils live in the scorching deserts and arid scrub of Australia. ... Australia's desert temperatures climb up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and can fall into the 30s at night. Thorny devils tunnel under scrub shade to stay cool on hot days and cover themselves with dirt on cool nights.
Where can I find thorny devils?
Thorny devils are found throughout arid regions of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, south-western Queensland and western South Australia. Like all reptiles thorny devils derive their body heat externally.
Why do thorny devils walk like that?
One of the most striking Australian lizards, the thorny devil is a small dragon covered in densely packed spikes. The thorny devil walks with an unusual rocking motion that is thought to confuse birds of prey.
How does a thorny Lizard drink water?
Moisture-harvesting lizards, such as the Australian thorny devil Moloch horridus, have remarkable adaptations for inhabiting arid regions. Their microstructured skin surface, with channels in between overlapping scales, enables them to collect water by capillarity and passively transport it to the mouth for ingestion.
