Uptake of Water by the Lizard, Moloch horridus
Moloch horridusis an agamid lizard living in the desert regions of Western and South Australia. It weighs as much as 50 gm. and has been described by Buxton1 as “a repulsive animal with tubercles and spines, it has the power of absorbing water through the skin after showers of rain”. This ability of absorbing water through the skin is characteristic of many Amphibia and is correlated with a ready loss of water by the same route2. Reptiles living in arid conditions would find a water-permeable skin uneconomical for water conservation so that this mode of taking up water may be questioned for Moloch.