Geographic distribution of thorny devils. Food and Feeding Biology Thorny devils are obligate ant specialists, eating virtually nothing else. They will consume several species of ants, but are especially partial to very small Iridomyrmex ants, especially Iridomyrmex flavipes . Feeding rates have been estimated at from 24 to 45 ants per minute. These are often found in neat piles either in the open or amongst sparse vegetation.
Individuals have specific defecation sites, separate from their basking and feeding sites.
Tracks and accumulations of fecal matter indicate that thorny devils often return to such spots several days in succession. Water Uptake Thorny devils have a hygroscopic system of grooves in their skin that lead to the corners of their mouth. Thorny devils use a gulping oral mechanism to move water along the grooves and into their mouths. Thorny devils can actually drink water from dew that falls on their backs and they can gain as much as a gram of water in a rainstorm. False Head and Predation Thorny devils posses a curious knob-like spiny appendage on the backs of their necks, which has sometimes been likened to a false head.