The thorny devil is older than the Australian deserts
March 12, 2023 6:59 PM Subscribe
The thorny devil is older than the Australian deserts. Scientists hope genetics can tell us why. Citizen scientists are being called upon to help unlock the mysteries of the thorny devil and better understand the desert dweller's evolution.
Very cool.
The pictures of them being held up by human hands all have a "Do I need to tap the 'do not touch' sign again?" vibe.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:16 PM on March 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
The pictures of them being held up by human hands all have a "Do I need to tap the 'do not touch' sign again?" vibe.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 8:16 PM on March 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
So small for such a look!
posted by rhizome at 8:22 PM on March 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 8:22 PM on March 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
These look like something the crew would find on a desolate planet in Star Trek. Such unusual creatures.
posted by azpenguin at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by azpenguin at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Their water collection system is amazing. Hydrophilic skin capable of sucking moisture out of damp sand, ridged scales to scrape dew off of foliage and capillary channels leading to their mouths from all over their body.
posted by Mitheral at 9:19 PM on March 12, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 9:19 PM on March 12, 2023 [8 favorites]
I looked at the first photo and thought “wait isn’t that a honey lizard, the absolute best lizard I find in California deserts?”. Convergent evolution is wild.
I didn’t know these guys existed, or that they are so cool, thanks for posting!
posted by lepus at 9:52 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
I didn’t know these guys existed, or that they are so cool, thanks for posting!
posted by lepus at 9:52 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
Seeing it listed with the scientific name “thorny devil (Moloch horridus)” makes it seem like something out of Looney Tunes.
posted by Jon_Evil at 10:03 PM on March 12, 2023 [13 favorites]
posted by Jon_Evil at 10:03 PM on March 12, 2023 [13 favorites]
I'm not a huge fan of reptiles, but this was fascinating. I also liked how researchers asked the general public to provide corpses of dead Thorny Devils for research. It sounds like a simple, elegant way to gather research data.
Thank you, CPbC! This is why I love Metafilter!
posted by dfm500 at 11:15 PM on March 12, 2023
Thank you, CPbC! This is why I love Metafilter!
posted by dfm500 at 11:15 PM on March 12, 2023
They look like 'fantasia on a theme of horny toad' such as I used to catch in the dry cactusy hills of Colorado Springs USA as a kid.
I always let them go, of course, and when I was four I caught one as big as the lid of the two pound coffee can it was hiding in. It looked right at me and gave out this really amazingly loud burping growl that scared me and I dropped the can and it got away. It was the only one that ever made a sound.
posted by jamjam at 11:23 PM on March 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
I always let them go, of course, and when I was four I caught one as big as the lid of the two pound coffee can it was hiding in. It looked right at me and gave out this really amazingly loud burping growl that scared me and I dropped the can and it got away. It was the only one that ever made a sound.
posted by jamjam at 11:23 PM on March 12, 2023 [7 favorites]
It me.
posted by briank at 6:52 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by briank at 6:52 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
cute lil feller
posted by ovvl at 7:46 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by ovvl at 7:46 AM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
The pictures of them being held up by human hands all have a "Do I need to tap the 'do not touch' sign again?" vibe.
Come at me bro
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:45 PM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Come at me bro
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 4:45 PM on March 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Because Australia. The land, of, lizards.
And, also, of, parrots and parrots (might be variants on same doco).
If you want to see some of the finest formal paintings ever done of parrots (and other birds, and some other species), check out the work of the late William T. Cooper. 1, 2, 3, 4.
And, of course, monotremes, the weirdest mammals of them all. Because Australia.
Plus, all three, and more from Oz. (May not be available for viewing everywhere.)
posted by Pouteria at 1:47 PM on March 15, 2023
And, also, of, parrots and parrots (might be variants on same doco).
If you want to see some of the finest formal paintings ever done of parrots (and other birds, and some other species), check out the work of the late William T. Cooper. 1, 2, 3, 4.
And, of course, monotremes, the weirdest mammals of them all. Because Australia.
Plus, all three, and more from Oz. (May not be available for viewing everywhere.)
posted by Pouteria at 1:47 PM on March 15, 2023
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You go thorny devil!
posted by Windopaene at 7:13 PM on March 12, 2023 [1 favorite]