Thorny Devil
(images via: Australian Geographic, Ryan Photographic and Desert Images)
The Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus) has a bark that’s much worse than its bite, though it doesn’t actually bark and it doesn’t bite humans. Growing up to 20cm (8 inches) in length and able to live up to 20 years, this Australian desert lizard boasts one of the most fearsome Latin names ever bestowed upon an animal.
(image via: Australian Traveller)
Displaying a varied array of scales, spines and horns, the Thorny Devil is undoubtedly thorny though it’s not very satanic. The creature does practice some deception, however, having a scaly “false head” on its upper back that it uses to fool predators by ducking its real head.
Hickory Horned Devil
(images via: Hold Onto Your Feelings and CCTV)
The Hickory Horned Devil is the larva of the Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), also known as the Royal Walnut Moth. Caterpillars can grow up to to 15 cm (5.9 inches) long, making them the largest such insects in the United States.
(image via: Growing Green)
Though it looks dangerous, the Hickory Horned Devil is all show and no go – its dangerous, devilish spikes and spines may be prickly but unlike those of other caterpillars they’re not poisonous. You’ll find Hickory Horned Devils on Walnut or Hickory trees though they may choose Persimmon, Sweet Gum or Sumac should their favorite nut trees be unavailable.
Red Devil Squid
(images via: Global Post, TackleTour and Raincoaster)
Also known as Jumbo Squid and Humboldt Squid, Red Devils are surprisingly large, growing up to 1.75 meters or 6 ft long and weighing up to 50kg or 100 pounds. They’re also aggressively curious – they’ve been known to grab divers’ masks and air hoses, and they don’t give ’em back once they’re gone. Millions of these squid congregate along Mexico’s Pacific Ocean coast with stragglers ranging up to southern California and even Puget Sound. Fast, elusive and cannibalistic, Red Devils occasionally wash up on shore where beachcombers stumble upon their carcasses.
(image via: Gene Kira)
Red Devil squid are formidable predators equipped with sharp beaks the size of tangerines and thousands of barb-like teeth embedded in their arm suckers. Sport fishermen claim they put up a fierce fight when hooked though captured squid have been known to blast their tormentors with viscous dark brown ink.
Devil Toad
(images via: Wikipedia/Nobu Tamura and Audubon Magazine/Edwin Fotheringham)
One bonus “devil” isn’t around to cause trouble anymore, and just as well. The Devil Toad (Beelzebufo), which lived in what is now Madagascar approximately 70 million years ago near the end of the Age of Dinosaurs… it may have even EATEN dinosaurs, albeit youngsters of smaller species. Beelzebufo is believed to have grown to over 40 cm (16 inches) from snout to tail and tipped the scales at an astonishing 4 kg (8.8 pounds). Forget ribbeting, this critter likely roared!

