10 Intriguing Devil Animals

What’s in a name? Glancing at the article title, ‘10 Intriguing Devil Animals’, probably your initial reaction would be — that the list presents terrifying, frightening or cruel animals. You might be right or totally wrong. One thing is sure — after digesting all the information you will definitely agree with the author that the old adage “Don’t always judge a book by its cover” or “don’t judge a species by its name” is indeed TRUE! Read and learn.

Thorny Devil

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The Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus),also known as thorny dragon, the Moloch, the thorny lizard, or the mountain devil, is an amazing Australian reptile. It got its name owing to the two large horned scales resembling that of a devil. Despite its appearance, this intriguing creature is totally harmless!

Range and Habitat: The only species in its genus (Moloch), the species are found in central and western Australia inhabits deserts and arid scrubland. An endangered animal, the slow moving lizard can live for about 20 years.

Description: The whole upper side of the lizard’s body is covered with thorns (conical spines.) Also, the creature features a spiny “false head” on the back of its neck These natural spikes acts as a defense mechanism against predators. The thorny devil can measure up to 20 cm (8.0 inches) long (including the tail) Females are bigger than males. In general, the species are brown and tan in color. Did you know? This reptile has the ability to change color.

Diet: Thorny devils feed mainly on ants — using their tongue. It can consume about 600 to 3000 ants in a single meal!

Tasmanian Devil

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The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisi) is the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial. Early European settlers on the island of Australia were the first to call this fierce-looking animal the Devil. The reason — its black color, its spine-chilling screeches and reputed bad temper. Tasmanian devils are listed as ‘Endangered’ and are wholly protected.

Range and habitat: The species were once widespread over Australia, but today’s population is now contained in the forests and open woodlands of Tasmania.

Description: Resembling a medium-sized dog, the Tasmanian Devil is robustly built and owns a powerful, bone-crunching jaws. Generally, it has black, coarse fur marked with white patches running across the chest, shoulders and rear end It has a large head, long whiskers, and a hairy tail about 25 cm (10 inches) long. It has long front legs and shorter rear legs. On average, adults measure 20 to 31 in (51 to 79 cm) in length and weigh 4 to 12 kg (9 to 26 pounds).

Diet: Generally, this intriguing animal eats just about anything – from carrion (dead meat), to killing small animals like birds, crayfish, frogs, lizards, kangaroos, snakes, and wallabies. Do you know that Tasmanian devils produce a pungent odor when threatened or under stress.

Devil Crab

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The Velvet Crab (Necora puber), also known as Devil Crab, velvet swimming crab, is a fast-moving and largest swimming crab common in British coastal waters. The species got its alternative name owing to its bright-red eyes and aggressive behavior.

Range and habitat: The species has a wide distribution in north-west Europe. This velvety-colored crabs prefer on fairly sheltered shores and rocky bottoms up to about 65 m (213 ft).

Description: A fairly-size crab with a flattened carapace measuring up to 100 mm (3.9 in) wide. It has bright-red eyes, the top side of the carapace has a reddish-brown velvety covering, and also velvety pincers. Between the eyes, ten narrow teeth sit on the edge of the carapace.

Diet: Juveniles feed mainly on crustaceans while adult diet includes mollusks, brown seaweeds as well as crustaceans

Giant Devil’s Flower Mantis

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The Giant devil’s Flower Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica),is one intriguing species of praying mantis that mimics flowers. It is also the largest and one of the scariest species of praying mantis.

Range and habitat: The species is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Description: Females measure to about 13 cm (5 in) while males can reach 10 cm (4 in) in length. Its appendages, wings and other body parts often resemble petals or foliage. Generally, the species adapt the host flora’s color that includes: blue, black, purple, red and white.

Spiny Devilfish

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The Spiny Devilfish (Inimicus didactylus), also called as Demon Rockfish, Devil Stinger or the Bearded Ghoul, is a species of stonefish known for its poisonous dorsal fin spines that inflict excruciating pain if trodden upon.

Range and habitat: The species is widespread all over the Indo-Pacific region including Thailand, the Philippines and Maldives. Generally, Spiny Devilfish prefers lagoons, seaward reefs buried in sand or silt.

Description: The fish remarkable features are his front fins, that resembles fingers. It has an elongated body, large pectoral fins and sharply-curved tails. Color ranges from chocolate brown to red and even bright orange. It has modified pectoral rays that it uses to walk with. Adults can grow to about 25 cm long.

Diet: Spiny Devilfish are known solitary species and feed mostly on fish and invertebrates.

Sand Devil

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The Sand Devil (Squatina dumeril) or Atlantic Angel Shark is a sleepy, bottom-grubbing shark that can be ferociously aggressive if stepped on or captured — thus gets the moniker “sand devil”.

Range and habitat: The species has a wide geographical distribution that covers the waters of Western North Atlantic regions. It is found from the surface to depths of 4,560 feet 1,390 m (4,560 feet).

Description: Adult ones can reach up to 1.5 m (5 ft) long. It has an overall flattened body with eyes situated on top of the head, laterally expanded pectoral fins, two spineless dorsal fins, no anal fin and five pairs of gill slits.

Diet: Sand Devils diet includes crustaceans, bivalves, cephalopods, gastropods, and small bony fishes.

Hickory Horned Devil

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The Hickory Horned Devil, is the intriguing caterpillar of the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis). This scary-looking caterpillar is known for its horn, thus getting its name.

Description: This gentle giant is metallic green in color, orange head with long spiky horns tipped with black. The back and sides of the body sport strings of short black spines. The horns, while frightening, don’t even sting. Just like most caterpillars, the Hickory Horned Devil develops through four larval stages, and grow to a remarkable length (up to 6 inches).

Diet: During summer, these caterpillars feed on leaves of trees such as hickory, persimmon, sweet gum, or walnut. When fully grown, larvae burrow into the soil and pupate.

Devil’s Coach Horse

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The Devil’s Coach Horse (Ocypus olens) is the largest of around 1000 species of rove beetles. This species got its name from Irish mythology where this creature symbolizes a form of corruption. As far back as the Middle Ages, it was believed to have the power to kill on sight or curse a person by raising its tail. The species may sound like an evil insect, but the Devil’s Coach Horse plays a major role in the food chain as a beneficial predator.

Range and habitat: The species are widespread across Europe and a common beetle in the UK. These critters prefer a variety of habitats such as gardens, meadows and woodlands.

Description: This little black devil has an elongated body, pincer-like jaws, shortened wing cases (elytra), and exposed powerful abdomen. Adults measures to about 25–28 millimeters (1.0–1.1 in).

Diet: Devil’s Coach Horses are carnivorous predators. Its diet includes carrion, spiders, slugs, woodlice, worms, and other invertebrates.

Devil Rider

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The Southern Two-Striped Walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides), also known as the Devil Rider or Musk Mare is a species of stick insect famous for its very deadly chemical defense spray. This insect emits a milky substance from a pair of glands, that can cause extreme irritation or temporarily blind people if introduced into the human eye.

Range and habitat: Devil riders are widespread throughout the southeastern United States.

Description: Devil’s rider walkingstick comes in three color forms: a “brown form”, a “white form”, and an “orange form”. Females average 67.7 mm long, while males average in 41.7 mm. Most species have a body with leaf-like lateral extensions.

Diet: This intriguing devil animal is herbivorous, feeding mostly on the leaves of trees and shrubs.

Giant Devil Ray

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The Giant Devil Ray or devil fish (Mobula mobular) is an endangered type of ray known for its hornlike cephalic fins, giving this fish its name. These gentle giants move around in groups while making long migrations

Range and habitat: These devil rays are most common throughout the Atlantic Ocean, inhabiting offshore, deep waters. At times can also be found in shallow waters.

Description: The species is recognizable by its flat, diamond shape body. a large, pointed pectoral fins, a mouth containing few teeth, and spiny tail. The upper side is dark while its underside is mostly white. It can reach up to 5.2 m (17 ft) in length, up to 520 cm in disk width, and can weigh up to 1300 kg.

Diet: Devil rays feed on plankton, crustaceans and small pelagic fishes.

10 Charismatic Animals Whose Names Begin with The Letter D

From the fascinating mallard ducks to the gentle Dugongs, these animals whose names start with the letter D simply capture the imaginations of many.

The animal kingdom comprises more than two million species; some beautiful and colorful while others are odd-looking and bizarre. If you are asked to name 10 popular animals that begins with the letter D, how would you do it? Below is my own list of popular animals that starts with the letter D.

Mallard Duck

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The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), is a migratory duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, and across the Northern Hemisphere. This dabbling duck prefers calm, shallow freshwaters, but is sometimes found in wetlands and salt waters. On average, mallard duck grows to about 56–65 cm long, weighs 0.9–1.2 kg and a wingspan of about 81–98 cm.

A distinguishable feature of Mallard Duck is the male’s green head and yellow bill, but sport shimmering purple-blue wing feathers that can be seen as a patch on their sides. A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female has a “quack” stereotypically associated with ducks. During mating season, mated pairs migrate to and breed in the northern parts of their range and build nests on the ground.

African wild dog

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The African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) is a carnivorous mammal native only to Africa, found in open plains, wooded areas and in scrub savanna. Other name includes: the Spotted Dog, Painted Hunting Dog, the Cape Hunting Dog, or the Painted Wolf. African wild dogs are lean, long-legged animals which can grow up to 75 to 110 cm at the shoulder and can weigh about 18 to 36 kg. Unlike dogs, African wild dogs have only four toes per foot, big rounded ears, and each animal has its own unique fur color. Its irregular coat can feature patches of red, brown, yellow, white and black fur.

These canines are social animals living in a pack led by a monogamous breeding pair. Social interactions are common like sharing food and aiding weak or sick members; touch, actions, and vocalizations are some of the known methods of communication used by group members.

Hunting in packs, The African Wild Dogs chase its prey in a wide, open space. After a successful hunt, the pack goes back to the den carrying food in their mouth to feed those who are left behind such as females and pups. The African Wild Dog’s diet includes: hoofed animals such as Impala, large birds like Ostriches, and other big animals, such as zebras and wildebeests. With diminishing open spaces, African wild dogs are now considered endangered animals. They are also quite susceptible to diseases spread by domestic animals.

White-tailed deer

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White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus),is a medium-sized, long-legged, fast-moving deer found in almost all states of America, Mexico, Canada, and Central and South America. It lives in marshes, grasslands, farmland, rainforests, conifer forests, and deciduous forests. White-tailed Deer can grow to about 1.8 to 2.4m tall at the shoulder. On average, males (bucks) weigh about 160 kilos females (does) weigh up to 80 kilos.

During summer, an adult White-tailed Deer has reddish-brown coat which turns to grayish-brown in winter. A buck can easily be recognized sporting a set of antlers having several times. During the mating season (rut), bucks fight over territory by using their antlers. Female deer give birth to one to three fawns (young deer), usually in May or June. These young deer, sport a reddish-brown coat with white spots.

The White-tailed Deer is an herbivore and has four-chambered stomach. This nocturnal, ruminant mammal feeds on a diet that includes; fruits, leaves, twigs, nuts, corn, cactus, grass and even poisonous mushrooms.

In the wild, predators such as mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes preyed on young white-tailed deer. When it senses danger, it wag its tail, and it uses its speed to outrun predators. In so doing, it can sprint up 48 kilometers per hour, leaps up to 3 meters and can run as far as 9 meters in a single bound.

Tasmanian devil

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The Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial found in the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Tasmanian devil has stocky, squat and muscular body, with a large head, long whiskers and black fur. Notable traits include; releasing pungent odor when harassed, creating extremely loud screech, and fierceness when feeding. It can grow up to 76 centimeters long and can weigh up to 12 kilograms. Although a strictly carnivorous, a Tasmanian devil also hunts for small preys such as wombats, snakes, small native mammals, sheep, birds, frogs, reptiles, fish, and insects.

Tasmanian devils are known to display “devilish” acts which include lunging, teeth-baring, lunging, and loud and wild growls when threatened by a predator, fighting for a mate, or defending a meal. A nocturnal animal, Tasmanian devils spent the day alone in burrows and hollow logs and appears at night to hunt.

Dingo

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The Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)is commonly referred to as Australia’s wild dog, though it is also found in Thailand. It is a domestic dog which has reverted to a wild state for thousands of years and today lives largely independent from humans in the majority of its distribution. The dingo shares similar characteristics with other South-East Asian domestic dogs and Indian pariah dogs.

The average dingo grows to about 52–60 cm tall at the shoulders and weighs to about 10 to 15 kg. measures 117 to 124 cm from nose to tag. The average weight is 13 to 20 kg. It has a fairly large head, erect ears and a pointed muzzle. Most dingoes are bi-colored, though there are some red individuals and the rare white dingoes. All other color patterns are a result of interbreeding with domestic dogs. with other domestic dogs.

Dingoes may hunt alone or in packs consisting of up to 10 individuals. Dingoes are opportunistic hunters, preying on small animals such as: rodents, rabbits, lizards and birds. Though dingoes breed only once a year, females can give birth to a maximum of five letters. Baby dingoes will depend on her mother for food and protection up until they reach eight months. Also, hybrid ones have been produced since dingoes interbreed with domestic dogs. Having a large population, farmers considered them as pests. Proof of this is the famous “dingo fence” that has been erected to protect grazing lands and herds of sheep.

Prairie Dog

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Prairie dogs (Cynomys) Is rabbit-sized rodents native to the grasslands of North America. They live in underground burrows on prairies and open grasslands. These ground squirrels (not dog) have five different species, namely: Gunnison, Mexico, Utah, white-tailed sand black-tailed prairie dogs. There are five different species of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs.

Prairie dogs are mainly herbivores, but at times eat some insects. Prairie dogs can give birth to 1-6 pups yearly, which are born blind and furless and require a month of close nurturing of their mother.

They are highly social animals living in colonies or “town” which are composed of other families living in a strict social hierarchy. Family groups (a male, a few females, and their young) live in burrows, and have assigned tasks such as sharing food, guarding burrows against other prairie dogs, and groom one another. burrows and cooperate to share food, chase off other prairie dogs, and groom one another. A dog kiss is a familiar greeting between family members.

These rodents are well adapted to predators. They can detect possible threats from a far distance using their dichromatic color vision, and then with a high-pitched call alert other prairie dogs the presence of imminent predators. Their burrows generally contain several routes of escape.

Prairie dogs are mainly herbivores but at times eat some insects. It feeds primarily on grasses and, in the fall, broadleaf forbs. Prairie dogs have 1-6 pups (babies) yearly, which are born blind and furless and need about 30 days of close nurturing from their mother.

Bottlenose dolphins

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Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Ursiops truncates) is the most popular species from the family Delphinidae. Much of its popularity is due to the wide exposure it gets from many aquarium shows, in movies and television programs. Who will ever forget Flipper! Bottlenose dolphins can be trained to perform complex tricks.

The dolphin species are found in all tropical oceans and warm and seas. The Common Bottlenose Dolphin has short and is grey in color and can be between 2 and 4 metres (6.6 and 13 ft) long, and weigh between 150 and 650 kilograms (330 and 1,400 lbs). It has a short and distinct snout, grey in color and can reach up to 3 to 4 m long and can weigh to about 500 kg.

In the wild, Bottle dolphins can reach a speed of over 30 kilometers an hour. They travel in groups called pods which vary in sizes, from a group of 15 to over 100 or at times reaching 1000 animals. The Common Bottlenose Dolphin also uses sound for communication–emitting snapping sounds and listen back to echo to know the exact location of objects nearby, including potential prey. By means of echolocation, they tract their potential prey which may include: shrimps, squids, eels, and wide variety of fishes. Bottleneck dolphins don‘t swallow foods instead they chew it!

Komodo Dragon

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The Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the heaviest living species of lizard native to the islands of Komodo, Flores, and Gili Motang in Indonesia. It is a venomous lizard that will grow up to 3 meters and weighs up to 150 kg. Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have elongated flat heads, bowed legs, large, strong tails and scaly skin.

Having a poor sense of hearing, Komodo dragons rely on their tongue to feel the air, smell and taste things around them. Being the leading predators, Komodos will eat anything that comes their way. These foods may include: deer, pigs, small Komodos, water buffalo and carrions.

To catch prey, Komodo dragons lie in wait and when an innocent prey When hunting, a Komodo dragon lies in wait for passing prey. When a victim walks by, it immediately jumps on the innocent victim, using its strong legs, sharp claws and serrated teeth to disembowel its prey.

Animals that are lucky enough to escape a Komodo’s jaw escape will have to worry about another thing — the dragon’s venomous saliva. the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Its saliva swarms with several strains enough to kill a victim within a day due to blood poisoning.

Leafy Sea Dragon

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The leafy Sea Dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish endemic to the waters of southern and western Australia. They are related to pipefish and seahorses. Leafy sea dragon’s body sports a brown to yellow color pattern, long, pipe-like snouts, and olive-tinted thin tails. It will grow to about 35 centimeters.

The Leafy Sea Dragon propels itself using its pectoral fins located at the edge of its neck and dorsal located on its back near its tail. Its lobes of skin resemble that of seaweed allowing it to camouflage with its surroundings. Like seahorses, sea dragon males are responsible for childbearing. However, unlike seahorses that have a pouch, male sea dragons instead have a spongy brood patch where females deposit their bright-pink eggs during mating.

Sea dragons feed on small crustaceans, plankton, shrimp, small fish. and sea lice. It catches its prey using its ability to be camouflaged.

Dugongs

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The Dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which are related to manatees, is one of four extant species of the order Sirenia. But do you know that both mammals are related to the elephant. Dugongs will grow to about 2.4 to 3 meters and can weigh up to 231 to 499 kg. These mammals can stay underwater for six minutes before surfacing and at times breathe by “standing” on their tail with their heads above water.

Dugongs are exclusively bottom feeders; their diet consist mainly of sea-grass. Their primary feeding mechanism is uprooting sea-grass by digging furrows in the sea floor with their snouts. Dugongs graze on underwater grasses day and night, uprooting them by digging furrows in the sea floor with their snouts.

Dugongs spend much of their time alone or in pairs, though they are sometimes seen gathered in large herds of a hundred animals. Female dugongs give birth to a single calf after about a 13-month gestation. A baby Dugong swims close to her mother for about 18 months.

Check out the entire Animal Alphabet list here:
Amazing Animal Alphabet Series 1
Amazing Animal Alphabet Series 2

Animal Kingdom: The Eating Machines

Gluttony is frowned upon in the human world. Is it the same for animals?

With the current influx of information campaigns against the danger of obesity, many are now aware and started to be conscious of their health. But how about the gluttons in the animal world? Sad to say, its just a way of life for these 'eating machines'.

Tiger Shark

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Tiger sharks are aggressive night hunter, they patrol the ocean devouring whatever come their way. Gifted with excellent eyesight, a sharp sense of smell and sickle-shaped teeth, tiger sharks usually prey on: fishes, squid, dolphins, sea turtles, seals, other sharks, sea turtles, seabirds, mollusks, and other sharks.

But did you know that tiger sharks are scavengers and are often called 'the garbage can of the sea'. Why? Documented facts revealed that various kinds of foreign objects are found in their stomach, including old tires, license plates, tires, gasoline cans, shoes and baseballs. However, tiger shark’s nasty eating habit help keep the ocean clean.

Pig

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This list will be incomplete if we will exclude the domestic pig. Pigs are known gluttonous omnivores, meaning they are plant and meat eaters. A greedy scavengers, pigs eat anything from plants, tree barks leaves, flowers, fruits, dead insects, rotting carcasses, garbage and even their young ones when kept in captivity. However, one awful thing pigs do… they love to sleep in its own excrement. Could you take that!

Vulture

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This bald-headed bird of prey is the ultimate carnivore. Vultures are picky eaters, they will settle for nothing less– and only eat meat whether it's fresh or rotten. These birds tend to pounce in and gobble as much as they can. Normally, vultures will overeat themselves until their digestive cavities bulges. They can eat as much as 25% more than their body weight. Vultures usually seek its prey by smell though they have an excellent eye vision. Vultures have no problem digesting rotten meat since special acids are present in their digestive system.

Tasmanian Devil

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The size of a small dog, the Tasmanian Devil is a carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian island state of Tasmania. A ferocious hunter at night, Tasmanian devil has an outstanding sense of hearing and an excellent sense of smell. It both scavenge carcasses of dead animals and hunt prey such as; wombats, sheep, small mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, frogs and insects. On average, they can consume as much as 15% of their body weight each day. Published reports had it that in just 30 minutes, Tasmanian Devil can gobble up carrion as much as 40 % of their body weight. This animal will likely eat anything that smells like flesh.

Vampire Bat

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Common vampire bats are known to have a dietary trait called hematophagy, meaning its food source is blood. Typically a night hunter, they feed mostly on the blood of mammals. Occasionally, vampire bats feed on human. Once a host is spotted, usually a sleeping mammal, vampire bats approach the target on the ground and land. They are able to locate where to bite by using their infrared sensors. In case the located host has fur, they use their razor sharp teeth in making a 7 mm long and 8 mm deep cut. Did you know that these little creatures can consume blood up to five teaspoons in one sitting! And for survival, vampire bats will eat other vampire bats as a food supply resource.

Python

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Pythons are non venomous snakes that are found in Asia, Africa and Australia. Python generally ambushes and then kill its prey by means of constriction. It feeds on almost everything that comes its way using a set of organs that can detect heat and a tongue with sensor capable of detecting the animal's scent. Its diet includes; rodents reptiles, amphibians, birds and other mammals.

Python can ingest prey bigger than its head by slowly squeezing the helpless victim. It usually swallows its meal starting with the victim’s head. A large meal will probably take days or even weeks to be totally digested since pythons have a slow digestive system. In this case, the snake may not need to eat again for months.

Argentinean wide-mouthed frog

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Argentinean Wide-mouthed frogs or Horned frogs are famous for its fearless reputation. These animals are probably created for the purpose of eating anything that fit in their mouths. They can consume anything it wants, is it smaller or bigger than their size. The horned frogs staple diet includes; insects, spiders, small lizards, rodents, and snakes.

Typically, it hunt by waiting for prey while remaining motionless. However, horned frogs have the tendency to bite bigger animals, including human when provoke. Did you know that these animals don’t know when to say no to its meal that at times their tummies are literally bursting open due to overeating.

Hummingbird

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We always thought that small animals eat less, but don’t say that to the hummingbirds. Considered the world’s smallest bird, hummingbirds have a very odd eating habit. They need to feed every 10-15 minutes, usually sipping the nectar of a flower or even preying on spiders and other insects when feeding young. The hummingbird’s heart beats 1,200 times/minute and flaps its wings 200 times in the same period. This tiny bird needs all nutrients it could get. Luckily, hummingbirds have an incredible metabolism.

Blue Whale

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Blue whales are found throughout all the earth’s ocean inhabiting continental shelves and ice fronts. They are the largest animals on the planet. These sea behemoths mainly feed on krill (a type of small shrimp-like organisms). Yes! You read it right, blue whales diets are generally small marine invertebrates, but they consume can up to 7,715 pounds of krill a day! Blue whales get a respite from their eating endeavor during its eight-month breeding season and usually refrain from eating anything at all.

Caterpillar

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We all know that butterflies and moths do come from caterpillars. But did you know that, this small creature tops our list of “eating machines.” Most caterpillars are known herbivores, and are voracious leaf eaters. Caterpillar grows very quickly, usually shedding their skin four or five times before it transform into an adult form.

As an example, Tobacco Hornworm can grow ten-thousand times its weight in about 20 days. It can consume 1,000 its bulk in less than three weeks. Caterpillar’s voracious eating habit is based more on biological adaptability.