Thorny Devil

Phil was visiting a mine at Southern Cross, WA, and they caught this little chap. The thorny devil grows up to ca. 20 cm in length, which is approximately 8 inches, coloured in camouflaging shades of desert browns and tans (colours changing from pale when warm, to darker colours when cold), and is entirely covered with conical spines (mostly uncalcified). It also features a spiny "false-head" on the back of the neck, which predators might eat instead of the real head of the thorny devil. Females are larger than males.