The thorny devil lizard uses its skin like a straw, helping it survive in the arid deserts of Australia.
A study published in the journal Experimental Biology by scientists at the University of Western Australia (UWA) reveals one of the primary methods by which the thorny devil lizard drinks water: by burying its body in moist sand and then sucking water from the sand.
The thorny devil lizard, scientifically known as Moloch horridus, is a species that inhabits the dry deserts and sandy plains of central and western Australia, according to ABC News.
The thorny devil lizard adapts to the harsh living conditions in Australia’s deserts. (Image: Flickr).
Philip Withers, a co-author of the study, stated that the unusual skin is a crucial factor for the survival of the thorny devil lizard in the harsh desert weather. “Their special skin system has evolved and is quite peculiar,” Withers said.
The capillary tubes on the skin of the thorny devil lizard help collect water from moisture in the sand, which is then directed toward their mouth. Although scientists have known about this mechanism for some time, they were uncertain whether the lizard could fill the capillary tubes and drink water by standing on moist sand.
To investigate further, the research team analyzed the amount of water that six thorny devil lizards could drink in different scenarios. The results showed that all six lizards opened and closed their mouths to drink water just 10 seconds after being placed in a puddle. However, when placed on wet sand, only 59% of the capillary tubes filled up, and the lizards did not drink water.
“The thorny devil lizard can definitely suck and drink water when standing in a puddle. But they cannot drink water if they are only standing on moist sand because they cannot fill the capillary tubes. Therefore, they need to bury their bodies in the sand to maximize the surface area of their skin in contact with the sand and rely on gravity while drinking water,” Withers explained.
The thorny devil lizard is covered in sharp spikes all over its body.
The thorny devil lizard has a unique feature: a large, sharp spiny layer on its back that serves as a defense mechanism when necessary. With its sharp spikes covering its body, the thorny devil, also known as the spiny dragon, resembles a prehistoric dinosaur, living in the deserts of Australia and deterring potential predators.
These lizards have camouflage colors of desert brown and can change from light to dark depending on the weather. The spines on their backs also aid in water absorption.
Another distinctive characteristic of this species is the “false head” on top of its neck, which they use to distract predators when feeling threatened. When threatened, they present the false head, creating a menacing appearance to deceive the predator.
Adult females are generally larger than males. Typically, females measure about 80-110 cm in length, while males do not exceed 95 cm. They can breed from the age of three, and during reproduction, they often dig burrows to lay eggs, with this process typically occurring in October, November, and December each year.
The thorny devil lizard mainly feeds on ants and can consume thousands of ants each day. When the temperature drops in the early morning and evening, their skin darkens to absorb more sunlight. However, at noon and in the afternoon, when it gets hotter, their skin lightens to counteract the heat.
Additionally, the eyes of the thorny devil lizard can shoot blood up to 1.5 meters with high accuracy. Each time it ejects blood, the thorny devil lizard loses about one-third of its total blood volume.
