Thorny devil, Australia Aug 14, 2024

From mythology to modern media, lizards have often been portrayed as scary reptiles. As it turns out, they"re not as dangerous as stories might lead you to believe. With more than 7,000 species, these animals have adapted to a wide range of environments—from deserts to rainforests. Now let"s focus on the peculiar creature in today"s image that"s trekking across the arid landscape in Australia"s Watarrka National Park. Its pace is deliberate, its skin a maze of spiky armour. Meet the thorny devil, also known as the thorny dragon or Moloch. With clever hydrophilic skin that channels moisture to its mouth, this reptile can hydrate just from the dew on its body. It can thrive in extreme desert conditions that would be inhospitable to many. So, the next time you spot a lizard, take a moment to appreciate these cool, scaly wonders of the animal kingdom.

© Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Aug 14, 2025Piz Nair mountain, Switzerland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 19, 2025Beach in Santa Catarina, Brazil
Nov 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Nov 25, 2024Maasai giraffes
Oct 12, 2023Palouse region, Idaho, USA
Oct 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Jan 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Mar 24, 2025African elephants in Namibia
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Sep 9, 2023Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand
Nov 1, 2023Haut-Barr Castle, Vosges, France
Jul 1, 2024Fisgard Lighthouse, Colwood, British Columbia, Canada
Mar 15, 2025The Temple of Saturn, Rome, Italy
Dec 8, 2023La Rocque Harbour, Island of Jersey
Mar 23, 2024Large anvil clouds, Amazon, Brazil
Jun 20, 2024Kokino, North Macedonia
Jul 16, 2025Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt
Jan 6, 2024A male chaffinch in a crab apple tree
Dec 26, 2025Lakes of Covadonga, Asturias, Spain
Apr 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States
Mar 10, 2024Prosecco Hills, Veneto, Italy
Dec 6, 2024Helsinki, Finland
Aug 19, 2025Flysch in Zumaia, Basque Country, Spain
Jun 12, 2025Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas, United States
Jan 12, 2026Eurasian otters
Apr 26, 2024Kalaloch Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Jul 7, 2024Rice terraces of Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái province, Vietnam
Jun 16, 2025Sea turtle, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Feb 11, 2025Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Dec 28, 2025Black-and-white ruffed lemur