How would you find a drink if you were stranded in a desert? The Thorny Devil, which lives in sand, spinifex grasslands and scrub in central and western Australia, uses its skin to keep it hydrated! Channels between its spines direct water along the skin to its mouth using capillary action. This allows most of its drinking water to be obtained from rain or by burying itself in moist sand.
It is hard to beat the Thorny Devil when it comes to amazing adaptations. In addition to its unique way of drinking, it has spikes to protect itself, changes colour in response to temperature, and has a mouth adapted to only eat ants! It also has a spiked lump on its head; this 'false' head is used to trick predators.
