There is no shortage of animals in the planet’s deserts. In the central region of the Sahara desert, the largest in the world, 70 species of mammals, 90 of resident birds (excluding migratory birds) and around 100 of reptiles, among other animals, have already been described. This animal faces, in addition to the lack of water and the extremely dry climate, large temperature fluctuations throughout the day. In the morning and afternoon, it is blisteringly hot – over 50 degrees in the hottest months – while at night it is so cold that the temperature can drop below zero. This climatic rigor forces the animals to adopt curious survival strategies. Many of them, like snakes, foxes and rodents, only leave your house at night, when the heat takes a break. Others appeal: certain species of vultures in the deserts of the southern United States urinate on their own legs to cool off.
Desert animals’ nostrils, eyes, and even ears are adapted to survive the inhospitable climate.
DROMEDARY
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Camelus dromedarius
SIZE – 2 m and 690 kg
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – This relative of the camel goes up to 17 days without drinking or eating, but when he finds a source of water, he swallows 100 liters in 10 minutes! An extra row of eyelashes protects the eyes, and the musculature of the nostrils allows it to keep out sand. The hump and legs are adapted to the desert, see below:
ADAX
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Addax nasomaculatus
SIZE – 1.7 m and 92 kg
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – This large antelope, the largest animal native to the Sahara, can spend months in drought. Herbivorous, it eats grasses, from which it takes the water it needs. It lives in flocks of 5 to 20 animals and has nocturnal or crepuscular habits. During the day, it protects itself from the heat by resting in holes dug in the sand.
HORNED VIPER
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Cerastes cerastes
SIZE – 30 to 60 cm
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – When the snake burrows, only the two horns are showing. Unwary animals think that the horns are food and approach, becoming easy prey for the boat. The horned snake is also one of the most flexible snakes on the planet and adopts a peculiar way of locomotion, which we show below:
JERBOA
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Jaculus orientalis
SIZE – 16 cm and 140 g
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – Your kidneys produce highly concentrated pee, minimizing water loss. In order not to roast, it lives in burrows dug up to 1.5 meters deep, where the moist soil keeps the temperature cooler. It also makes temporary burrows to escape its predators, such as fennec foxes.
NILE CROCODILE
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Crocodylus niloticus
SIZE – 5 m and 500 kg
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – The original crocodiles of this species live in rivers, but have since been found in ponds and swamps in the desert. When the water evaporates, they dig holes in the sand and “hibernate”: they remain quiet and without eating. As they live on the edge, they are smaller than their relatives: they are only 1.5 meters on average.
DESERT LIZARD
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Varanus griseus
SIZE – 80 cm and 180 g
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – The position of its nostrils, close to the eyes, allows the lizard to stay buried hiding from the sun. Between November and March, it hibernates. When active, it runs at around 30 km/h, an essential skill when hunting. Its preferred victims are small mammals, birds, scorpions and snakes.
ISRAELIAN DESERT SCORPION
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Leiurus quinquestriatus
SIZE – 9 to 11 cm and 30 g
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – The scorpion only leaves its shelter (hollows under stones or holes) at night and absorbs water from the flesh of worms, crickets and other insects. Its feces are extremely dry, as the animal has a water loss rate of only 0.01% of its weight per hour, the lowest among all desert animals.
FENCO
SCIENTIFIC NAME – Vulpes zerda
SIZE – 30 cm and 1.5 kg
SURVIVAL STRATEGY – Smallest member of the canidae family, the fennec practically does not need to drink water, as it extracts it from its prey or vegetation. The large ears (1/4 of its size) help dissipate heat and help it find its prey (jerboa, insects and birds) hidden under the sand