McMartinVille--Reptiles

 
NO NEED FOR A CAR, CLICKED YER MOUSE... AND HERE YOU ARE! "McMartinVille"
 

Moloch

Order:  Squamata (scaled reptiles)
Suborder:  Lacertilia (=Sauria) (lizards)
Family:  Agamidae (agamid lizards)
Genus:  Moloch
Also known as:  "thorny devil"

Scientific Name:  Moloch horridus Gray, 1841

Habitat:  Sandy and other arid regions.

Moloch=false god/idol in Biblical times to which children were sacrificed; horridus="dreadful"

Length: A little less than 1 foot total.
Food:  Exclusively ants. Moloch Range

I'm certain I passed the first one or two molochs I came across as I was driving through Northern Territory.  When I was traveling at "normal person" (non-reptile hunter) highway speeds, these lizards with their bizarre, thorny shape and cryptic coloration, appeared like dried weeds on the road.  I finally decided to stop and investigate one of these "weeds" after seeing a couple of the exact same size and shape.  I'm glad I stopped, because I was able to take pictures and video of a beautiful moloch.  I wasn't expecting to find any of these lizards, after hearing how rare they were.  I ended up finding several, both alive and dead.

Moloch
This moloch, when confronted, tucked its head down and kept its tail held high (which it also did while in motion).  Perhaps this is to lure potential predators away from the head.  When this lizard decided to start moving again, it moved with a peculiar gait--if you've seen an Old World chameleon climbing a branch with a swaying motion, you'll know what I'm talking about.  The moloch would seem to hesitate with every step, its body moving forward and back atop its firmly-planted legs.
I'm glad this moloch decided to clear the road, because as the second picture shows, most people don't even notice the lizards and zip right along as fast as they'd like--there's no speed limit in Northern Territory. Lucky Moloch
The second moloch for which I stopped was simultaneously noticed by a tour van.  The tour operator picked up the moloch for a photo opportunity, so I asked if I could get a shot of myself holding it as well.  The resulting picture is the final one shown here.  I wouldn't have touched the lizard had a licensed tour operator not been supervising, as it is illegal to do so without a permit. Chris with Moloch

 I wish I would've gotten a glimpse of these lizards' bellies--each moloch has a pattern of dark spots that is unique to that individual and provides a means of identifying particular specimens in a group.  These molochs were bright yellow with brown markings.  The captive specimens I saw at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre ranged from yellow to gray.