The Thorny Devil Lizard
- The thorny devil (Moloch Horridus) is the sole species in its genus (Moloch).
- The habitat of the thorny devil are the dry inland regions of Outback Australia and the south western coast. Its distribution seems to be determined more by soil type (it likes sand and sandy loam) than by climate or anything else. (If you are hoping to see one on your travels, good luck. They are very hard to find.)
- A thorny lizard is mature at three years of age. Mating occurs around August/September. In that time the usually sedentary lizard will travel considerable distances to meet a mating partner. After mating, from mid September through to December, the female lays three to ten eggs in a burrow, which she excavates with her hind feet over several days. She then backfills the tunnel, leaving an air filled chamber. Theyoung lizards hatch after three to four months and seem to eat their eggshells before they dig their way out of the chambe