The thorny devil (Moloch horridus) is a reptile found in the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. This lizard has a distinctive appearance, with a body covered in thorny spines and camouflaged coloring, often in shades of brown, yellow, or orange. It also features a unique “false head” located on the back of its neck. Despite its spiky appearance, the thorny devil is a slow-moving, harmless creature adapted to its harsh desert environment.
Its Exclusive Ant Diet
The thorny devil is a highly specialized insectivore, relying almost exclusively on ants for sustenance. This dietary specialization classifies it as an obligate myrmecophage. It consumes various ant species, including Iridomyrmex (meat ants), Camponotus, and Pheidole.
Ants provide relatively low nutritional value, necessitating the thorny devil to consume them in large quantities. A single thorny devil can eat thousands of ants daily, with estimates ranging from 600 to 2,500. To accommodate this high volume of food, the lizard has an enlarged stomach. This consistent intake supports its survival in an ecosystem where food sources can be scarce.
Unique Feeding Strategies
The thorny devil employs a “sit-and-wait” strategy when hunting its ant prey. It remains motionless near ant trails, waiting for individual ants to pass by. Once an ant is within striking distance, the lizard quickly flicks out its short, sticky tongue to snatch the insect. This one-ant-at-a-time approach is characteristic of its feeding behavior.
The lizard’s small, peg-like teeth are adapted for processing the hard exoskeletons of ants. Its teeth form an effective shearing device to crush the prey. Thorny devils typically forage during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning and late afternoon, aligning their feeding times with ant activity and favorable temperatures.
How It Obtains Water
The thorny devil has an effective method for collecting water, a crucial adaptation for its arid habitat. Its specialized skin is covered with microscopic grooves and channels between its overlapping scales. These channels can gather moisture from various sources, including dew, rainfall, or damp sand.
Through a phenomenon known as capillary action, water is drawn along these tiny grooves from any part of its body directly to the corners of its mouth. This passive transport system is efficient, allowing the thorny devil to absorb water without directly drinking from a standing source, as its mouth structure is primarily adapted for its ant diet.