Moloch horridus

See also: Moloch (homonymy)

Moloch horridus is a alive Lézard terrestrial and diurnal in the Australian desert , which one meets under the names of moloch , Moloch roughcast , or horned devil .
This Reptile is of moderated size, to the maximum a score of centimetres, rather squat, and it has a body of gray, beige, orange color or brick, which offers a camouflage in its environment to him. Its body is covered with the spines, which are scaly outgrowths , largest being located on the back and especially the head. It indeed presents two spines of each with dimensions muzzle, as well as a thorny ball behind the head. It is about a mechanism of defense to impress its predatory. It is besides a placid reptile, which counts more on its camouflage and its unpleasing aspect that on the escape.

It is insectivorous which consumes quasi-exclusivement Fourmi S. being adapted to the desert, it needs few Eau. It gets some partly thanks to its scales, which are traversed fine channels which collect the moisture of the air and leads it to the head. The reproduction of this lizard is little known. The female lays up to eight eggs in a burrow dug in sand.

External bond

photographs and description
photographs

References

Boylan. T. (1970): Thorny devil , Animal Kingdom, 73 (1): S. 24-27
Bentley, P.J. & Blumer, W.F.C. (1962): Uptake off toilets by the lizard, Moloch horridus , Nature, London, 194: S. 699-700
Niejalke, D.P. & Bonnett, M.P. (1994): Behavioral notes one the thorny devil (Moloch horridus Gray, 1841) , Herpetofauna, Sydney, 24 (2): S. 42-43
Peters, U. (1968): Moloch horridus, Varanus spenceri, V. mitchelli, Egernia bungana und Heteronotia binoei im Taronga-Zoo, Sydney - Die Aquarien und Terrarienzeitschrift, Stuttgart, 21: S. 252-254
Peters, U.W. (1990): Ein buntes Wunder der Natur Australian. Der Dornteufel , Aquarien Terrarien, Leipzig, 37 (9)
Pianka, E.R. & Pianka, H.D. (1970): The ecology off Moloch horridus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) in western Australia , Copeia, 1970: S. 90-103
Sherbrooke, W.C. (1993): Rain-drinking behaviors off the Australian Thorny Devil (Sauria: Agamidae) , Newspaper off Herpetology, 27 (3): S. 270-275
Sporn, D.C. (1955): The breeding off the Mountain Devil in captivity , W. Aust. Nat., 5 (1)
Warham, J. (1956): Mountain Devil , Zoo Life, 11: S. 16-18
Withers, P. (1993): Cutaneous toilets acquisition by the Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus, Agamidae) , Newspaper off Herpetology, 27 (3): S. 265-270
Withers, PC & Bradshaw S.D. (1995): Water and energy balances off the thorny devil Moloch horridus: is the devil has sloth , Amphibia-Reptilia, 16 (1): S. 47-54

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