Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

Moloch horridus (spiny devil, mountain devil, thorny devil, moloch)

This bizarre little reptile is superbly adapted to its habitat in a number of ways. Living in the desert areas of Australia it has eliminated the need to drink in the normal way, being able to absorb water from its environment without reducing its "waterproofing". As a result water goes in while water is prevented leaving through it skin to a large extent. It has a network of channels between the scales and spines that are small enough to draw water by capillary action. Water that contacts with any part of its body is taken up by these channels and taken to the corners of its mouth where it is swallowed. Rain is rare in the places they are found, but if one finds a puddle it stands in it and opens and closes its mouth. Water is taken up by the channels and the swallowing action draws the water into its mouth. As is usual in desert areas, night time, and especially early morning air temperature can be much lower than the daytime temperature so dew can form even in dry deserts. This dew condenses out of the air on the spines where it is channelled to the mouth. It also gets water from the abundant and reliable food source, the ants which are its preferred food.

Australian National Parks

Australia - The Geology, Climate & Ecology

Photos of Australia

Sources & Further reading

Penny Van Oosterzee, 1993, The Centre - The Natural history of Australia's Desert Regions, Reed Australia.