Deserts

Animals

The desert is an extremely hard place to see animals. High temperatures and lack of water during the day is particularly tough on large mammals. Smaller animals can seek out the shade if small desert plants, or sometimes can hideaway underground. This means the desert may be full of animal life, but they spend most of their day hiding away. All the animals in the desert have had to adapt in some way to the hot and dry surroundings, and there are many strategies.

For example, many animals live a nocturnal life, so they can hide away from the heat of the day. Many animals have also adjusted over time. For example, some have slender bodies with long limbs. This type of body is better for shedding heat. An example of this type of animal's body is above. Several animals also have specialized snouts, waxy body coatings, efficient kidneys, etc. These are all part of adapting to water loss.

Animals also have long eyelashes or deep set eyes. This not only reduces the harsh sunlight, but also reduces evaporation from the animal’s eyes.

If animals didn't have the skill of adapting, the population of animals in deserts would be drastically less. There are so many strategies that not only help cool them, but help them store water and protect them from the climate and predators. In the desert, there are animals you can find nowhere else and that is because over time they have changed and adjusted. Adapting is a vital skill that all desert animals have to have.

This is an example of an animal that has adapted over time. It is small enough to hide in small amounts of shade. It also has a long, slender body which as it says above, is better for shedding heat.

Plants

Plants of the Dry Desert have had to adapt in many ways to the lack of water, to keep themselves alive. There is much less photosynthesis taking place, and the growing of plants is often very slow.

One way the plants keep hydrated is by using dew for moisture. They also take in water through their leaves and stems, and store the water there.

Most plants in the dry deserts also have a reduction of leaves, and often have spines for protection instead. The surfaces of normal leaves are very flat which provides a huge area for water loss, where as spikes are stronger and protect the plant. Spikes also protect plants from predators.

Another way a lot of plants have adapted is by growing roots underground. These roots can either grow straight down to groundwater, or if that’s not available, spread out extensively under the surface of the desert. This allows plants to take advantage of short rain pours.

Flora and Fauna are forced to adapt to the harsh climate, because their survival depends on it. Their bodies and shapes are all completely different to other biomes, and they will continue to adapt to deserts for a long time.

This is an example of a plant that has adapted over time. Around the plant has grown spikes to protect itself and store water.

Adaptions

Animals

Plants