Yaklaşık olarak kuyruğu da dahil 21cm (8,3in) uzunluğa erişebilir.[4] Dişiler erkeklerden iridir. Üst kısmı avcılarından korunmasına yarayan dikenimsi çıkıntılarla kaplıdır. Avcılarından korunma amaçlı kamuflaj veya göz algısı da yaratabilir.[5] Kafasının arka kısmında avcılarına karşı gerçekmiş gibi davrandığı, yumuşak dokudan oluşan sahte bir kafası bulunur.[6]
Genellikle orta Avustralya'nın çalılıklarında ve çöl bölgelerinde bulunur.
Batı Avustralya'nın kumluk bölgelerinde belirli iklime sahip kısımlarında yaşar.[7]
Moloch horridus'un pullu yüzeyi. Taramalı elektron mikroskobu. Petek benzeri süslemeler yüzeyi olağanüstü bir hale getiriyor.
Meyers, Jay (2005). "Prey capture kinematics of ant-eating lizards". Journal of Experimental Biology. 208 (Pt 1): 115-127. doi:10.1242/jeb.01345. PMID15601883. ProQuest13293724.
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Gray JE (1841). "Description of some new Species and four Genera of Reptiles from Western Australia discovered by John Gould, Esq." The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, [First Series ] 7: 86–91. (Moloch, new genus pp.88–89; M. horridus, new species, p.89).
Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. 978-1921517280.
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Pianka, Eric R.;Pianka, Helen D. (1970) The ecology of Moloch horridus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) in Western Australia.: Copeia 1970 (1): 90-103
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Boulenger, G.A. (1885) Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae.: London: 450 pp.
Cogger,H.G. (2000) Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed.: Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island, 808 pp.
Pianka, Eric R. (1997) Australia's Thorny Devil.: Reptiles 5 (11): 14-23
Pianka, G A; E R Pianka & G G Thompson (1998) Natural history of thorny devils Moloch horridus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) in the Great Victoria Desert.: J. Roy. Soc. West. Aust. 81: 183-190
Siebenrock, Friedrich (1892) Ueber Wirbelassimilation bei den Sauriern.: Annalen des Königlichen Kaiserlichen Naturhistorischen Hofmuseum in Wien 7: 373-378
Wilson, S. & Swan, G. (2010) A complete guide to reptiles of Australia, 3rd ed.: Chatswood: New Holland, 558 pp
Frank, Norman & Ramus, Erica (1995) A Complete Guide to Scientific and Common Names of Reptiles and Amphibians of the World.: Pottsville: N G Publishing Inc., 377 pp.
Pianka, E. R. (1969) Habitat specificity, speciation, and species density in Australian desert lizards.: Ecology 50 (3): 498-502
Boulenger GA (1885). "Moloch horridus" in Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). 2nd Ed. Vol. I. ... Agamidæ.. Taylor and Francis. pp. 411–412.
Browne-Cooper, Robert; Bush, Brian; Maryan, Brad; Robinson, David (2007). Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. ss.46, 65, 158. ISBN978-1-920694-74-6.
Bell, Christopher; Mead, Jim; Swift, Sandra (2009). "Cranial osteology of Moloch horridus (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae)". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 25 (Part 2): 201-237. doi:10.18195/issn.0312-3162.25(2).2009.201-237.
Pianka ER, Pianka HD (1970). "The ecology of Moloch horridus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) in Western Australia". Copeia. 1970 (1): 90-103. doi:10.2307/1441978. JSTOR1441978.
