Desert Animals (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain everything about the animals that live in the desert, some examples and the main characteristics of these animals.

Desert animal - camel — Desert animals are part of the surprising fauna of our planet.

What are the animals of the desert?

Deserts are quite common ecoregions on our planet, which can occur in hot climates (warm deserts) and cold climates (frozen deserts), characterized by their brutal lack of humidity. In them, rain is very occasional or non-existent, and the soil is therefore arid, dry, hard. This does not prevent, however, the existence of fauna and flora, that is, desert plants and animals. adapted to such harsh conditions of existence.

Contrary to what was once thought, desert animals are not scarce, although they are not very diverse especially when compared to the enormous variety of creatures that inhabit other regions such as jungles and forests. This is because desert vegetation has few water resources to abound, so it grows at a slower rate, generally without foliage, thus providing few opportunities for animals to, among other things, protect themselves from sunlight and heat. wind, the latter being an important source of erosion.

Desert animals are part of the surprising fauna of our planet and suffer from the effects of climate change and pollution as much as any other living being from any other habitat, since over millions of years they have adapted to current living conditions. This despite the fact that in the deserts, luckily for them, human life is truly scarce.

See also: Animals of the African savanna

the camels

Camel - desert animals — The camel's hump has essential fats to maintain body energy.

Camels are iconic animals of the desert habitat. They are very well adapted to the harsh living conditions of these spaces, They can drink about 180 liters of water at once, and then go up to 10 days without tasting a drop.

The scorpions

Scorpion - desert animals — Scorpions surprise their prey by injecting venom with the stinger in their tails.

The food chain in deserts is much more desperate than in other habitats, since species are not abundant and predators do not usually get second chances. Therefore, hunters like scorpions have evolved to surprise their prey and inject them with their venom with the stinger they have in their tail, or by holding them with the robust front pincers they have. These arachnids are abundant in the desert biome, among which are some of the most poisonous species known.

The rattlesnake

Rattlesnake - desert animals — Rattlesnake venom is the most dangerous of all North American snakes.

Common in American desert climates, although its preferred habitat is the coast and forest, this snake It is well known for the sound it makes with its tail at the end of which it has a bell, from which its name comes.

In a favorable environment, a rattlesnake can grow up to 2.5 meters long and 4 kg in weight. Its powerful hemotoxic venom is the most dangerous of all North American snakes.

The Dingo dog

Dingo dog - desert animals — The Dingo dog is a subspecies of wolf.

This type of canid from northern Australia is a real threat to children and domestic species, since despite being a desert inhabitant, usually approaches urban areas in search of food.

The Saharan Ostrich

Ostrich - desert animals — The Saharan ostrich is an animal critically endangered.

Also known as the red-necked ostrich, it is a common inhabitant of the steppes and deserts of North Africa. It is the most robust of all the ostrich subspecies the one that best withstands the absence of water and the one that can run the fastest.

Its name comes from the pinkish coloration of its neck and legs, but the rest of its fur is black with white trim on the tips of its wings. It is, however, an animal critically endangered of which only a few copies remain.

The coyote

Coyote - desert animals — Coyotes live about 6 years.

Famous for his appearance in cartoons, the coyote is a predatory canid from the North American deserts as well as Central America.

Coyotes are particularly solitary animals, they live around 6 years and have gray fur that covers a particularly slender body, which at first glance appears malnourished. However, its diet is omnivorous, being able to eat fruits, carrion, small species, garbage and small insects.

Characteristics of desert animals

desert animals - thorny devil — Many animals hide under the sand seeking the coolness of the depths.

Desert animals have developed, over millions of years of evolution, various physical, biochemical or behavioral abilities that allow them to survive and reproduce in a habitat as challenging as the desert. It is, as said, little varied and not abundant compared to other terrestrial ecosystems, and consists mainly of insects, arachnids, reptiles, birds and some mammals, generally small in size.

Many of these animals have nocturnal habits, when the sun sets and temperatures drop considerably. For this reason hide during the day, within the most abundant vegetation (cacti and bushes) or under the sand itself, seeking the freshness of the depths. It is also common for them to have insulating layers to protect themselves from the sun and desiccation, or water reserves in various body organs to spend long periods without drinking.