Thorny Devil

Description:

My absolute favourite lizard! This guy was small at about 5cm body length; cryptic colouration in shades of grey and brown, making it almost impossible to spot among the Spinifex grass of the areas it inhabits. Its spiny scales are actually quite sharp and should keep most predators away. It also features a false 'head' (picture #5) on the back of the neck meant to mislead potential predators.

Habitat:

Arid regions in western and central Australia, but only on sand plains and sandy ridges, being absent from rocky areas. This particular specimen was found basking on the road between Gascoyne Junction and Carnarvon.

Notes:

This agamid is perfectly adapted to its desert environment: it feeds exclusively on ants, which are plentiful in the desert and it is able to absorb water through capillary action. Grooves run all over is spiny-scaled body, which work in the same way when dipping a paint brush in paint and the paint will travel upwards, soaking the bristles. The whole body of this lizard can absorb water and channel it to its mouth by this process. Therefore, it can make the most of the little water available in the harsh Australian desert.