Let’s Learn: Animal Survival
How do animals survive in the desert?
Goal:
Goal:
It can be very hard for animals to survive in the desert. They have developed some interesting ways of meeting their basic needs and staying cool during the very hot days. Click through the slides to learn about just a few of the animals that have adapted to life in the desert.
Camel
When you think about deserts, camels may come to mind. These animals can go a long time without water and then drink a lot of water when it is available. They use fat stored in their humps for energy to help them survive in the hot, dry environment.
Gila (HEE luh) Monster
This poisonous lizard from the southwest United States stores fat in its tail. That way it can stay underground for long periods of time and does not have to come out to eat very often.
Thorny Devil
This prickly lizard from Australia uses its spikes to collect water and move it to its mouth. Its skin is also able to soak in water.
Sand Grouse
This amazing bird can collect water in its feathers. The males fly long distances to find water. Then they soak it up like a sponge and fly home to share it with their families.
Sidewinder
This snake has an interesting way of moving through the hot sand. It moves sideways, which allows the snake to touch the hot sand in only two places at a time.
Desert Tortoise
These slow-moving reptiles burrow in the sand most of the time to stay protected and out of the heat.
Cape Ground Squirrel
This creative little creature from South Africa uses its tail like an umbrella to bring shade with it wherever it goes. Now, that is a cool idea!
Bilby
This bilby is heading into its burrow where it spends most of the day. At night, it eats lots of seeds, insects, and other nibbles it can find. Here’s a fun fact! The bilby doesn’t need to drink water because it gets all the water it needs from its food.
Question
How do animals adapt to the desert?
Animals adapt in many ways. They dig burrows to stay cool, use their tails for shade, store fat in their bodies, use their bodies to collect water, and move carefully across the hot sand.