Ten thousands of species have learnt to live in a desert which is an incredibly active community despite recurring water deficiency.
Let’s look through the most interesting animals, which live in the desert in today’s article. Xerocoles are animals that live in the desert.
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- Fennec Foxes
- Camels
- Kangaroo Rats
- Big Cats
- Arabian Wolves
- Bearded Dragons
- Coyotes
- Desert Box Turtles
- Desert Elephants
- Desert Horned Lizards
- Desert Kingsnakes
- Desert Monitors
- Gila Monsters
- Golden Jackals
- Vultures with Lappet Faces
- Meerkats
- Mojave Rattlesnakes
- Red Kangaroos
- Saharan Horned Vipers
- Sand Cats
- Water-holding Frogs
- Zebra-tailed Lizards
1. Fennec Foxes
Scientific name: Vulpes zerda
Their ears are used for heat dissipation. They live in the scorching heat throughout their lives because they only dwell in the Saharan desert. They stay cool by having their ear blood vessels widen, which allows blood to flow into the enlarged area.
They also build intricate systems underground as a clever strategy to stay cool and protected from larger predators.
2. Camels
Scientific name (genus): Camelus
Both extremely high and extremely low body temperatures are tolerated by these tall creatures. To put things in perspective, they can withstand temperatures between 93°F and 104°F, both of which are uncomfortable and harmful to humans and the majority of other mammals.
Additionally, they can withstand severe dehydration; most mammals perish after losing more than 10% of their body weight in water, but they can lose up to 25%. In order to reflect light, the camel’s coat also undergoes color changes throughout time.
In order to stay high above the ground, they have evolved extraordinarily long legs over time, which can emit intense heat in the summer. These creatures, which inhabit the Sahara and surrounding regions, are the epitome of desert animals.
3. Kangaroo Rats
Scientific name (genus): Dipodomys
These animals named hop like kangaroos They have peculiar way of moving similar to kangaroo. They normally move about in parts that are free from moisture and they ideally reside in areas that have good ground for digging, such as the earth. Although they are not as adapted to extreme weather conditions than the likes of fennec foxes and camels they are nonetheless incredible survival.
They are nocturnal mammals that use the tunnels to retreat to during the hottest periods of the day, The pygmy mice are exhibited a rare digging ability, and they make elaborate tunnels with hundreds of rooms. Well, during the day by closing certain chambers where heat is produced by the pekking order the kangaroo rats will block them.
As most of the desert areas in North America where they inhabit have extreme weather conditions, they are mainly active at night.
4. Big Cats
Scientific name (genus): Panthera
Since tigers and jaguars do not reside in arid regions, this primarily relates to lions, leopards, and cheetahs (though they could likely adapt if needed).
Their fur color is one of their most obvious modifications. What’s stand out with these cats is that they have sandy colored fur, and this makes it easier for them to camouflage themselves to avoid being hunted.
The IUCN Red List tons of pumas live in sandy regions where their furred color blends with the color of the sand.
From the fact that these are the swiftest of all the terrestrial mammals, cheetahs have also attained splendid running capabilities.
5. Arabian Wolves
Scientific name: Canis lupus arabs
The Negev Desert and several nearby arid regions are common habitats for this species. They are or rather this subspecies of one of the biggest canines, gray wolf, is simply a gray wolf that has had to learn to survive in the desert.
To heat, these wolves have reduced their size and weight much more than other species of wolves in order to remain starved and take lesser calories.
They are therefore living examples of Allen’s Rule, which states that animals in hotter regions must adjust their size to prevent starvation due to high temperatures and a shortage of food.
6. Bearded Dragons
Scientific name (genus): Pogona
Being reptiles that inhabit deserts of Australia, bearded dragons have two ways in which they deal with the heat. During the hot months of the year they can follow same behavior and stay in their burrow for weeks.
Second, they will also hibernate during the time of the year that is coolest and the time of the year that is warmest. During brumation, bearded lizards will not eat; they will only take little sips of water during this time.
7. Coyotes
Scientific name: Canis latrans
Coyotes have such characteristics that can allow them bear extremely high temperatures just like those animals that live in the desert. Other places with the existence of coyotes include North American deserts.
They remain short and slim in nature so as to endure such high temperatures of which they have minimal intake of calories. Besides their small size they possess a stomach which can deal with literally any type of meat. The stench of car bodies, carcasses of killed on roads animals does not deter them.
Sea also: Best 14 Examples of Animals Like Coyotes(with Photos)
8. Desert Box Turtles
Scientific name: Terrapene ornata luteola
This kind of turtle only resides in some sections of northern Mexico or any part of the south western United States of America. They have to work under the extraordinarily high temperatures there. These turtles need to sleep through the winter in the desert if they are to survive because contrary to expectation, deserts can be very cold at night.
Any formation will start to hibernate in November and will stop in May. The turtle will burrow into the sandy ground to hibernate, the turt will stay there until summer sets in.
Despite the fact that desert box turtles are the animals that live in the desert, they are able to tolerate low temperatures as well!
9. Desert Elephants
Scientific name: Loxodonta africana
Fauna of such species is not seen in regions of Sahara and Namib desert but African bush elephants are found popularly known as desert elephants. These elephants are almost different from other elephants because they have adjusted like those animals that live in the desert environment.
Their smaller bodies, wider feet, and longer legs help them stay farther away from the heated ground. As a result of having to march up to 70 kilometers between water holes, they evolved large feet.
Due to their ability to survive for three days without water, desert elephants are also more resilient than other elephant species.
10. Desert Horned Lizards
Scientific name: Phrynosoma platyrhinos
These lizards belong to the continent of North America and are strictly arboreal, that is, germane to regions with animals that live in the desert. They enjoy digging in the ground, just like other desert lizards. They will, if at all feasible, locate another animal’s burrow and claim it as their own.
Their hue and the spines on their backs allow them to blend in with the surroundings. Because of their extremely flat bodies, they can easily stay close to the ground and hide by crawling under bushes.
11. Desert Kingsnakes
Scientific name: Lampropeltis splendida
Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico are home to this species of kingsnake, which often lives in arid regions but can also be found in well-watered places. They primarily consume rodents and other snakes in the wild since they are impervious to pit viper poison.
Although they frequently approach human habitat, these animals that live in the desert of Arizona’s hide from the sun by creeping beneath rocks and plants.
Since they are not poisonous and are submissive when approached, they are entirely harmless. When a person approaches a kingsnake, they frequently act dead.
12. Desert Monitors
Scientific name: Varanus griseus
The skin of desert monitors is particularly well suited like those animals that live in the desert environment. But although desert monitors can withstand heat, they can also withstand colder temperatures. From the fall to the middle of spring, they hibernate.
The temperature in their environment has a significant impact on their behavior. Generally speaking, they move more fast in hot weather and more slowly in cooler weather.
Because they are unable to flee from potential predators, desert monitors become hostile during colder months.
13. Gila Monsters
Scientific name: Heloderma suspectum
Indeed, 90% of a Gila monster’s life will be spent underground or in a burrow. If not, they would become too hot and perish. Mating and feeding are the only two activities that can cause them to leave their refuge during the day; they are primarily active at night.
14. Golden Jackals
Scientific name: Canis aureus
The jackal, found from Europe to South Asia, is the most frequent of all the creatures proved as being cursed according to the ancient beliefs. In fact, animals that live in the desert makes up a large portion of that habitat. They make an effort to remain near water sources even when they live in deserts.
In relation to other canids, they are a very little species; in fact, they are smaller than the Arabian wolf, the smallest wolf species.
It is usually a light shade of golden brown thus a perfect camouflage and adaptable to climatical change.
15. Vultures with Lappet Faces
Scientific name: Torgos tracheliotos
Like other vultures, these vultures are scavengers because food is scarce in the desert and they locate their prey by sight.
They can bite through the meat and skin of large, recently deceased animals, creating a route for smaller scavengers. They are the strongest vultures in Africa.
16. Meerkats
Scientific name: Suricata suricatta
Only in southern Africa are these social animals that live in the desert, and they are well-known for their burrowing habits. As a highly cooperative species, they construct burrows, protect them, and care for the young jointly.
The animals’ two main uses for the burrows are to shield them from the elements and from predators. Temperatures within the burrows are eight hours warmer than those outside.
This indicates that the burrow is warm at night (maintaining the daytime temperature) and extremely chilly during the day (10th maintaining the nighttime temperature). This sophisticated thermoregulation method works incredibly well.
17. Mojave Rattlesnake
Scientific name: Crotalus scutulatus
This snake is known as the Mojave rattle and mainly inhabits the Mojave Desert, although, it inhabits other states of the South West United States, northern, and central Mexico.
Because of the extreme temperatures, they don’t do anything during the day other than sunbathe. During the winter, like those animals that live in the desert they burrow under the ground and are utterly motionless, primarily hunting at night.
18. Red Kangaroos
Scientific name: Osphranter rufus
The astounding thing that I want to know is how kangaroos can live in a water deficient environment using so little water. Their kidneys are specifically designed to concentrate urine, and they typically consume green flora, which they can locate even in arid environments.
They appear to mimic many reptiles’ habits of hiding during the day and only active at night. During the day, they stay put and just graze on grasses and shrubs.
On the hottest days of the year, kangaroos are the animals that live in the desert will frequently jump into the water to cool off because they are excellent swimmers.
19. Saharan Horned Vipers
Scientific name: Cerastes cerastes
The snake belongs to certain regions of the Arabian Peninsula and to the North of Africa region. Their color pattern typically blends them in with their dusty environment, but they may be clearly identified by the horns over their eyes.
On rare occasions, these vipers can be found close to oases, but they favor sandy environments. They only have a portion of their head visible when they are hiding beneath the sand to hunt. Their hue makes them nearly unnoticeable.
Their color modifications and their predation style of burrowing into the sand have been shown to be among the most successful in the desert.
20. Sand Cats
Scientific name: Felis margarita
They will locate a burrow shortly before dawn and spend the remainder of the day there. They are capable of traveling over three miles every night. Sand cats typically break into other animals’ burrows, which frequently results in them taking both the burrow and their prey.
21. Water-holding Frogs
Scientific name: Ranoidea platycephala
The ability of water-holding frogs to retain water allows them to endure intense temperatures for up to five years without drinking. This is an intriguing idea. Should there be dry spell they hold the urine in their bladder then use it as a water source.
This species of frog may appear bloated due to their clogged bladder. By burying itself in the earth, it can also stop water loss. Moreover, they consume their own skin to keep calories from being lost.
22. Zebra-tailed Lizards
Scientific name: Callisaurus draconoides
They hunt, drink, and engage in other activities throughout the day as well as at night. These lizards may appear to be dancing because they alternately shift their weight from one leg to the other to prevent their toepads from burning.
Conclusion:
Animals that live in the desert must undergo significant modifications in order to survive, including changes in size, weight, hunting skills, water retention, and temperature control. Camels, desert elephants, and Arabian wolves are excellent examples of animals that alter their weight, size, and body form to reduce heat-induced calorie loss.
In addition to having highly evolved hunting strategies, desert snakes and lizards exhibit excellent burrowing techniques for temperature regulation, and meerkats are a prime example of how sophisticated burrows reduce temperature fluctuations for the advantage of the animals.