CLASSIFICATION OF MOLOCH (THORNY DEVIL)
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present)
GROUP :- CRANIATA (Definite head. Cranium with brain present)
SUB-PHYLUM :- VERTEBRATA (vertebral column present)
DIVISION:- GNATHOSTOMATA (Jaws and paired appendages present)
SUPER CLASS :- TETRAPODA (Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin)
CLASS :- REPTILIA (Scaly vertebrates with right and left aortic arches. Single condyle, pulmonary respiration. Embryo with amnion and allantois).
SUB CLASS :- DIAPSIDA (Skull with two temporal openings separated by postorbital and squamosal).
ORDER :- SQUAMATA (Lizards and snakes with horny epidermal scales or shields. Quadrate bone movable. Vertebrae procoelous. Anal opening transverse).
SUB ORDER :- SAURIA (Lizards. Body slender, limbs 4. Pterygoid in contact with quadrate. Eyelids
movable).
FAMILY :- AGAMIDAE (limbs normal. Teeth differentiated).
Genus :- Draco
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Moloch is found in Australia.
HABIT AND HABITAT
Moloch is also adapted for dry condition and it is an ant-eater.

GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF DRACO : FLYING LIZARD
- Body divided into head, neck, trunk and tail.
- Skin is rough and highly hygroscopic which absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.
- Body of the animal is elongated and is adorned with heavy armour of scaly spines. There are two horn like spines on head. Spines cover the body on all sides.
- Trunk spines are thicker.
- Tail spines and limb spines are smaller in size.
- Head contains small mouth and nostrils and eyes.
- Eyes well developed with eyelids and rounded pupil.
- Lateral teeth of the upper jaw are implanted horizontally and directed inwards.
- Homodont teeth attached to edges of jaws (acrodont). Tongue is thick and short.
- Limbs are normal, pentadactyl. Forelimbs and hind limbs have claws in digits. Both the limbs contain spines.

IDENTIFICATION
- This lizard contains characteristic spines and all above features, hence it is Moloch.


OUR POSTS
What are the apex predators of the insect world?
What are the apex predators of the insect world? Answer written by :- Sergio Diniz There is one type of insect that can defeat any other insect, thus I believe this is the top apex predator among ...READ MOREHERDMANIA
HERDMANIA CLASSIFICATION OF HERDMANIA PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present). Group :- ACRANIATA (No head, cranium or brain) Sub-phylum :- ...READ MORELARGEST, HEAVIEST, FASTEST, SMALLEST FISHES
LARGEST, HEAVIEST, FASTEST, SMALLEST FISHES LARGEST MARINE FISH Largest marine fish :- Whale-shark (Rhineodon typicus) first discovered in 1821, South Africa. It is not, however, the largest ...READ MORECHELONE : GREEN TURTLE
CHELONE : GREEN TURTLE CLASSIFICATION OF CHELONE : GREEN TURTLE PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present ) Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium ...READ MORERHABDOPLEURA
RHABDOPLEURA CLASSIFICATION OF RHABDOPLEURA PHYLUM :- HEMICHORDATA ( Marine, enterocoelous coelomate. Notochord confined to head region). CLASS :- PTEROBRANCHIA (Small hemichordates with encased ...READ MOREWHY ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGETS ?
WHY ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGETS ? It’s a not unexpected saying that elephants always remember, and that is why these great creatures are more than just monster strolling on our planet earth. The ...READ MOREPTYAS: RAT SNAKE
PTYAS: RAT SNAKE CLASSIFICATION OF PTYAS : RAT SNAKE PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present ) Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain ...READ MOREDASYPUS : ARMADILLO
DASYPUS : ARMADILLO CLASSIFICATION OF DASYPUS : ARMADILLO PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present ) Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with ...READ MORETRIONYX : SOFT RIVER TERRAPIN
TRIONYX : SOFT RIVER TERRAPIN CLASSIFICATION OF TRIONYX : SOFT RIVER TERRAPIN PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present ) Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite ...READ MOREICHTHYOPHIS
ICHTHYOPHIS CLASSIFICATION OF ICHTHYOPHIS PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present ) Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present ) ...READ MORE
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
- Click to print (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
- Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Pingback: TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS IN VERTEBRATES | ZOOLOGYTALKS | 2021