We've introduced you to many of the weird, terrifying and sometimes deadly creatures native to Australia, and the thorny devil is definitely one of the strangest Aussie oddities we've come across so far. But if you're a fan of dragons or dinosaurs (or both), you'll probably find this little guy more adorable than scary.
Photo © National Geographic
If you didn't know beforehand that the lizard known as Moloch horridus was harmless to humans, you might be intimidated by the name alone – taken from the god Moloch, a title later adopted by Western mythology and many horror tales as that of a powerful demon. But the only ones truly terrified of this 8-inch-long beast are ants... and they should be scared, because he gobbles up hundreds of them a day.
Photo: W.A. Zoologist
Moloch's most memorable feature is obviously its namesake thorny armor, which covers its entire body and pretty much takes it off the menu for most predators. But its creepiest trait is a formation on the back of its neck that looks like a second head, which pops up when the lizard tucks its real head down.
Photo: Bäras/Wikimedia Commons