MOLOCH (THORNY DEVIL)​

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.

MOLOCH (THORNY DEVIL)​ LIZARD

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.
MOLOCH (THORNY DEVIL)​ LIZARD

IDENTIFICATION

  • This lizard contains characteristic spines and all above features, hence it is Moloch.
MOLOCH (THORNY DEVIL)​ LIZARD

REFERENCES

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorny_devil
  • Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
  • https://depositphotos.com/stock-photos/thorny-devil.html
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