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Thorny dragon (Moloch horridus)

The thorny dragon is an Australian Lizard. This is the sole species of genus Moloch. The thorny dragon grows up to 20 cm in length, and it can live for up to 20 years. Most of these lizards are coloured in camouflaging shades of desert browns and tans. These colours change from pale colours during warm weather and to darker colours during cold weather. These animals are covered entirely with conical spines that are mostly uncalcified. The thorny dragon also features a spiny “false head” on the back of its neck, and the lizard presents this to potential predators by dipping its real head. The “false head” is made of soft tissue.The females are larger than the males. The thorny dragon’s scales are ridged, enabling the animal to collect water from any part of its body. That water is then conveyed to its mouth. The thorny dragon usually lives in the arid scrubland and desert that covers most of central Australia. The thorny dragon mainly subsists on ants.