A brief discription if desert animals.

1. KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA UJJAIN
ENGLISH PROJECT WORK
DESERT ANIMALS
ADAPTATIONS, HABITAT…
Prepared by
Divyansh Khare

2. Desert- a place where nothing is everything
Far from being barren wastelands, deserts are biologically rich
habitats with a vast array of animals and plants that have
adapted to the harsh conditions there. Some deserts are among
the planet's last remaining areas of total wilderness. Yet more
than one billion people, one-sixth of the Earth's population,
actually live in desert regions.
Deserts cover more than one fifth of the Earth's land, and they
are found on every continent. A place that receives less than 10
inches (25 centimeters) of rain per year is considered a desert.
Deserts are part of a wider classification of regions called "dry
lands." These areas exist under a moisture deficit, which means
they can frequently lose more moisture through evaporation
than they receive from annual precipitation. And despite the
common conceptions of deserts as dry and hot, there are cold
deserts as well.

3. The largest hot desert in the world, northern Africa's Sahara,
reaches temperatures of up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees
Celsius) during the day. But some deserts are always cold, like the
Gobi desert in Asia and the desert on the continent of Antarctica.
Others are mountainous. Only about 10 percent of deserts are
covered by sand dunes. The driest deserts get less than half an
inch (one centimeter) of precipitation each year, and that is from
condensed fog not rain.
Desert animals have adapted ways to help them keep cool and use
less water. Camels, for example, can go for days without food and
water. Many desert animals are nocturnal, coming out only when
the brutal sun has descended to hunt. Some animals, like the
desert tortoise in the southwestern United States, spend much of
their time underground. Most desert birds are nomadic,
crisscrossing the skies in search of food. Because of their very
special adaptations, desert animals are extremely vulnerable to
introduced predators and changes to their habitat.

4. Desert plants may have to go without fresh water for years at a
time. Some plants have adapted to the arid climate by growing
long roots that tap water from deep underground. Other plants,
such as cacti, have special means of storing and conserving water.
Many desert plants can live to be hundreds of years old.
Some of the world's semi-arid regions are turning into desert at
an alarming rate. This process, known as "desertification," is not
caused by drought, but usually arises from the demands of human
populations that settle on the semi-arid lands to grow crops and
graze animals. The pounding of the soil by the hooves of livestock
may degrade the soil and encourage erosion by wind and water.
Global warming also threatens to change the ecology of desert.
Higher temperatures may produce an increasing number of
wildfires that alter desert landscapes by eliminating slow-growing
trees and shrubs and replacing them with fast-growing grasses.

5. ANIMALS OF THE DESERT –FANRTASTICALLY
INTERESTING
Desert animals have evolved to handle the desert's heat and lack
of water. They have adapted their bodies and behaviors to the
desert climate. Most can survive on small amounts of water and
many get all of their water from their food. Some drink maybe
once a week and travel considerable distances to find isolated
waterholes and springs. Large animals seek shade during the
hottest part of the day. Some animals dig a hollow depression
into the ground and lie in the cooler soil while others are
nocturnal. Many reptiles and other animals protect themselves
from the extreme temperature by spending their time in
burrows. Below you will find a sampling of the animals that
inhabit the desert, along with a few interesting facts about each.

6. DESERT BIGHORN SHEEP
Desert Bighorn Sheep (Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran) -
indigenous to the hot desert habitats of the Southwest
region of the United States. They are considered good
indicators of land health because the species is sensitive
to many human-induced environmental problems.
They use their hooves and horns to remove spines from
cacti, then eat the juicy insides. Desert Bighorns utilize
two mechanisms for cooling -- perspiring, and also
panting, which is a fairly uncommon adaptation for
desert animals.

7. SCORPION
Scorpion (all deserts) - it is the last five segments of the
scorpions abdomen that forms what most people refer to
as the "tail" at the end of which is the venomous stinger.
The "long-tailed" South African Scorpion reaches a length
of over 8 inches, and is probably the longest scorpion in
the world.
Scorpions have a complex mating ritual in which the male
uses his pedipalps to grasp the female's pedipalps in order
to lead her on a "courtship dance". There are almost 2,000
scorpion species, but only 30 or 40 have strong enough
poison to kill a person. The many types of venom are
effectively tailored to their users' lifestyles, however, and
are highly selected for effectiveness against that species'
chosen prey.

8. OSTRICH
Ostrich (Sahara, Kalahari) - skeletons and fossils of ostriches
have been found which date back over 120 million years!
Ostriches are the second fastest animal in the world and can run
at 40 miles per hour. They can maintain this speed for at least 30
minutes. Ostriches do not bury their head in the sand. Ostriches
stretch out their neck and lay their head on the ground to keep
from being seen, hence the myth that ostriches hide in the sand.
The ostrich is the world's largest bird.
An ostrich lives for about 40 years. The Ostrich
is farmed around the world, particularly for its feathers,
which are decorative and are also used as feather dusters.
Its skin is used for leather products and its meat is
marketed commercially.[3]

9. COLLARED LIZARD
Collared Lizard (Mojave, Sonoran) - very predatory and when
frightened and running fast, will rear up and run on its hind legs
(bipedal), a rarity in lizards. If a predator grabs the Baja Black
Collared lizard by the tail, the skin comes off! This lizard gets its
name from the two dark bands or collars encircling the throat area
Notice the pronounced jaw muscles. This lizard is carnivorous, eating
- insects, small rodents, and other lizards.
These reptiles are often tamed and kept as pets. When born
in captivity, they are quite docile and tolerant of interaction
with humans. They are very active and predatory lizards,
requiring a large amount of space to run. They prefer high
temperatures, up to 105–110 °F (41–43 °C) at their basking
spot and 80 °F (27 °C) elsewhere in their habitat during the
day.

10. KANGAROO RAT
Kangaroo Rat (Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin) -
have the ability to convert the dry seeds they eat into water,
and they neither sweat nor pant like other animals to keep
cool. They spend their days in their burrows where the air is
moist and humid. Kangaroo rats are primarily seed
eaters. They will, however, sometimes eat vegetation at some
times of the year and some insects.
They have been observed storing the seeds of mesquite,
creosote, bush, purslane, ocotillo and grama grass in their
cheek pouches. Kangaroo rat will store extra seeds in seed
caches. This caching behavior has an impact on the rangeland
and croplands where the animals live. Kangaroo rats seem to
have two major periods of activity: one around 9 pm and the
other about 3 am when there is the most moisture in the air!

11. CAMELS
Camels (Gobi, Sahara) - the Bactrian camel has two humps and
lives in the Gobi desert; the Dromedary camel has one hump and
lives in the Sahara desert. Camels have the ability to close their
eyes and nostrils to keep out blowing sand and dust. The
Dromedary camel is capable of drinking 30 gallons (100 letters) of
water in just 10 minutes! Camels store fat in their hump, not
water!
In fact baby camels are born without humps because the layer of
fat does not develop until they eat solid food. The average life
expectancy of a camel is 40 to 50 years. A fully grown adult
camel stands 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at the shoulder and 2.15 m
(7 ft 1 in) at the hump. The hump rises about 75 cm (30 in) out of
its body.

12. ELF OWL
Elf Owl (Chihuahuan) - one of the smallest owls in the world,
the Elf owl is only 5 1/2 inches tall!. It lives in hollowed out
cactus trunks, where it is protected from most predators.
When captured, this tiny owl likes to play opossum and feigns
death until it is sure that all danger has passed! Elf Owls feed
mainly on insects and therefore occupy habitats with a ready
supply of these. Agaves and ocotillos are ideal places for
foraging as mothsand other insects may sleep in their flowers.
Elf owls are known to eat scorpions, somehow
managing to cut off the stinger. They are often seen
chasing after flying insects, with a flight similar to
a tyrant flycatcher's just after dusk.

13. SIDEVINDER SNAKE
Sidewinder (Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Namib) - use a
side winding motion to move across the hot surface sand and
have only a small part of the body on the hot sand at one time.
Like many other snakes the diet of the Sidewinder
consists of small rodents such as the Kangaroo Rat and
lizards. The Sidewinder uses venom to kill its prey.
Though a bite is probably not lethal to humans due
to its
small size, the Sidewinder is poisonous and if bitten a
person should seek professional medical attention
immediately.

14. ECHIDNA
Echidna (Spiny Anteater) (Australian) - lays eggs and produces milk
for its young. The Echidna has a pointy snout and an extremely
long sticky tongue used to catch ants and termites. They make a
sniffing noise as they search for food! Because they have no teeth the
Echidna crushes the insects between thorny pads in its mouth.
Echidnas and the platypus are the only egg-laying
mammals, known as monotremes. The female lays a
single soft-shelled, leathery egg 22 days after mating,
and deposits it directly into her pouch. Hatching
takes place after ten days; the young echidna, called a
puggle, then sucks milk from the poresof the two milk
patches .

15. ADDAX ANTELOPE
Addax Antelope (Sahara) - currently, no more than several
dozen in Algeria, Niger, and the Sudan remain in the wild.
These beautiful antelope have been hunted to near
extinction for their horns. Addax possess broad, flat hooves
with flat soles that help prevent them from sinking into the
desert sand!
Addax will dig depressions in the sand in which to
rest. These are often located partly underneath
boulders that give shade and protection from the
wind and sun. Male addax stand from 105 to 115
centimetres (41 to 45 in) at the shoulder, with
females at 95 to 110 centimetres (37 to 43 in).

16. GREATER ROADRUNNER
Greater Roadrunner (Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan) - has the
ability to lower its body temperature in response to lower
night temperatures in the desert habitat. they raise the body
temperature with the help of a black patch on their back
which they expose to absorb the rays of the sun.
Roadrunners run very fast (up to 15 miles per hour!), and can
chase down swift prey, such as lizards, with ease. They prefer
to walk or run, and, when they fly, it is usually close to the
ground for short distances. The roadrunner is about 52–62
cm (20–24 in) long, has a 43–61 cm (17–24 in) wingspan and
weighs 221–538 g (7.8–19.0 oz). It stands around 25–30 cm
(9.8–12 in) tall and is the largest.

17. SAND CAT
Sand Cat (Sahara, Gobi, Arabian, Turkestan) - well
adapted to cope with the extremes of its environment - its
thick fur is of medium length and acts as insulation
against the extreme cold of the desert nights and its feet
and pads are covered with long hair which protect them
from the heat of the desert surface and give it extra
support needed in moving across the soft, shifting sands.
The sand cat is a relatively small, stocky cat with
short legs, a long tail, and large, pointed ears. They
range from 39 to 57 centimetres (15 to 22 in) in
length, plus a 23 to 31 centimetres (9.1 to 12 in) tail,
and weigh from 1.4 to 3.4 kilograms (3.1 to 7.5 lb).

18. THE STORY IS
NOT YET
FINISHED,
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