How Animals Survive In The Desert
How Animals Survive
How do animals survive in the extreme heat and dryness of the desert? Many have evolved clever adaptations: jackrabbits cool off through their oversized ears, while reptiles like lizards bask in the sun in the morning but retreat to the shade by afternoon. Nocturnal creatures, such as coyotes and kangaroo rats, avoid the heat altogether by being active only at night.
Water is precious, and desert animals have found ways to conserve it—some never drink water at all, extracting what they need from food. Others dig burrows or use camouflage to avoid predators and the sun. This video explores how wildlife across the American Southwest and global deserts thrive in places most would find uninhabitable.
More Information
More on Desert Animals
Videos you might also like:
Death Valley - Titus Canyon
As Titus Canyon Road in Death Valley reaches the foothills, it starts to climb and meander among the sagebrush and red rock outcroppings. The road becomes steeper and narrower as it approaches Red Pass, amply named for its red rocks and dirt. Enjoy the ride!
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
DesertUSA takes you to Rainbow Bridge, the world's largest natural bridge. It is considered sacred by the Navajo Indians, for whom personified rainbows have stood as guardians of the universe. The bridge's predominant color is salmon-pink, with dark stains called desert varnish, caused by iron oxide (hematite). Afternoon sunlight makes the coloration especially brilliant.
Share this page on Facebook:
The Desert Environment
The North American Deserts
Desert Geological Terms
Are you interested in the temperatures in the
desert?Click here to see current desert temperatures!
