Deserts are quite common ecological regions on our planet, which can occur in both hot (hot deserts) and cold (frozen deserts) climates and are characterized by an extreme lack of moisture. In these places, rain is rare or absent, so the soil is arid, dry and hard. However, this does not prevent the presence of flora and fauna, that is, plants and desert animals adapted to such harsh living conditions.
In this article we are going to tell you about the characteristics and survival methods of desert animals.
Desert animals
Contrary to what was thought, desert animals are not rare, although they are not very diverse, especially when compared to the wide variety of creatures that inhabit other areas such as jungles and forests. This is because desert vegetation has little water in which to thrive, so it grows more slowly, and is often leafless, so animals have little chance to protect themselves from the sun and wind. Wind, which is a major source of erosion.
Desert animals are part of the incredible fauna of our planet, and they are as affected by climate change and pollution as any other organism in any other habitat, since they have adapted over millions of years to the conditions of their current life. . Despite the fact that in the desert, fortunately for them, human life is scarce.
Camel
The camel's hump contains essential fats to maintain the body's energy. The camel is an iconic animal of the desert habitat. They are so adapted to the harsh living conditions of these spaces that they can drink around 180 liters of water at a time and go up to 10 days without tasting a drop.
They have a characteristic hump in the middle of their backs and can be simple (dromedary) or dromedary (Bactrian camel). The so-called hump, contrary to what is thought, is not a water reserve, but an essential fat to maintain the body's energy. It is an animal that can withstand long distances, which is why it is used as a pack animal by the inhabitants of the Sahara and its surroundings.
Scorpion
Scorpions scare off their prey by injecting venom into their tails with their stingers. Food chains in deserts are more useless than in other habitats because species are rare and predators rarely get a second chance. For this reason, hunters, like scorpions, have evolved to catch their prey off guard and inject venom through the spines on their tails or by grasping the prey with strong pincers on the forehead. These arachnids abound in desert biomes, including some of the most venomous species known.
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake Venom it is the most dangerous of all North American snakes. Often found in American desert climates, although its preferred habitats are coastal and wooded, this snake is known for the sound it makes with its tail, which has a rattling sound at the end, from which it gets its name.
Under the right conditions, rattlesnakes can grow up to 2,5 meters in length and weigh up to 4 kilograms. Its powerful blood-toxic venom is the most dangerous of all North American snakes.
Dingo dog
Dingoes are a subspecies of wolves. This canid from the north of Australia poses a real threat to children and domesticated species since, despite being a desert inhabitant, It usually approaches urban areas in search of food.
It was a subspecies of wolf with yellowish fur and features similar to modern dogs. Most of their life is solitary, but sometimes they form groups whose purpose is to socialize and reproduce.
ostrich in the sahara
The Sahara ostrich is a critically endangered animal.. Also known as the red-necked ostrich, it is a common resident of the grasslands and deserts of North Africa. It is the strongest of all the ostrich subspecies, the most capable of withstanding lack of water, and the fastest runner.
It gets its name from the pink color of its neck and legs, but the rest of its fur is black and its wingtips are fringed with white. However, it is an endangered animal of which only a few specimens remain.
Coyote
Best known for its cartoon appearance, the coyote is a carnivorous canid that lives in the deserts of North and Central America. Coyotes are exceptionally solitary creatures that live for about six years, they have gray fur covering exceptionally thin bodies, and at first glance appear to be malnourished. However, its diet is omnivorous and it can eat fruits, carrion, small species, leaf litter and small insects.
Characteristics of desert animals
Many animals hide under the sand in search of freshness in the depths. Over millions of years of evolution, desert animals have evolved various physical, biochemical, or behavioral capabilities that allow them to survive and reproduce in challenging habitats such as deserts. It is less varied and less abundant than other terrestrial ecosystems, and is composed mainly of insects, arachnids, reptiles, birds, and some generally smaller mammals.
Many of these animals are nocturnal., when the sun sets and the temperature drops significantly. For this reason, they hide during the day among the most abundant vegetation (cactus and shrubs) or under the sand, seeking the coolness of the depths. It is also common for them to have insulation to protect themselves from the sun and dryness, or to store water in various organs of the body for long periods without water.
Given the low content of organic matter, the predominance of carnivores and scavengers is well known; as for herbivores, nomads and vagabonds.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about desert animals, their characteristics and survival methods.