Range

Australia is the native home of the thorny devil. Here they are found throughout the West of the country covering most of the inland areas in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia along with a small portion of Queensland.

Habitat

The thorny devil is found primarily in arid or semi-arid deserts. They do also inhabit shrubland and woodland as well.

Reproduction

Mating takes place from late winter right through to the start of summer.Males will approach the female and bob their head before mounting the female to see if she is receptive. Females will on occasion reject the male which they do by rolling over.

The female will put on a significant amount of weight prior to mating. This is used to provide nutrients for the eggs. Up to 40% of their body weight may be lost once they lay their eggs.

Females will dig a tunnel which is up to 15cm (5.9in) long in to which they deposit 3-10 eggs. This tunnel is then filled in with sand and the eggs are left to incubate.

Incubation take three to four months. Following this the young will eat their egg casing before coming to the surface.

The young may take 5 years before they reach their adult size.

Behaviour

The thorny devil moves around using a slow, swaying gait. While walking the tail is raised up at an almost right angle to the body. It is believed this movement serves to confuse a predator that may spot them.

Thorny devils are active by day. During extreme periods of heat and cold they will become inactive and spend their time in a burrow they dig.

Predators and Threats

Predators of the thorny devil include goannas and birds of prey.

When threatened by a predator the thorny devil will dip their head down and present the false ‘head’ which is a lump of fat on the back of their head. This part of the body can recover quickly if injured so if they are being attacked they would rather it be there.

They are also able to puff up their body using a breath of air. Once complete they look bigger to predators and are harder to swallow which may help protect them.

Thorny devils are particularly vulnerable to attack when eating as they stay in one place for long periods of time. Their colouration is helpful as it allows them to blend in with their surroundings and as such they are harder to spot.

Humans affect the thorny devil through habitat destruction and vehicle strikes. They come in to contact with vehicles as they sit on roads to warm up easier.

Quick facts

Their latin name ‘horridus’ translates as bristly and is used to describe their erect stance. The moloch portion comes from canaanite god, Moloch.