Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

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DESERT WILDLIFE

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CONSERVATION
Most desert wildlife is not in urgent need of
conservation measures because deserts are not
seriously threatened by habitat destruction.
However, some deserts are being turned into
farmland for growing cereals, fruit,
and other crops, and this
destroys the unique
desert plant life.

HOT DESERTS

The Sahara in Africa is the world’s largest and
hottest desert. At noon in the Sahara, the

scorching sand is so hot that it can burn
through skin in seconds. The temperature in

the shade soars to more than 130°F (55°C).
Few animals are active. Yet as the sun sets

and the air and sand cool, many creatures
emerge from under rocks and out of burrows.

Dew falls at night, providing the plants and
animals with much-needed moisture.

ROADRUNNER
The roadrunner can fly, but it usually
races along the ground and runs into
the undergrowth if it is disturbed.
Roadrunners live in deserts and dry,
open country in North America,
feeding on all kinds of small
animals, including grasshoppers
and snakes, and eggs, and
certain fruits.

SIDEWINDER
A row of S-shaped marks in
the sand at daybreak is a sign
that a sidewinder snake passed
during the night, probably on
the trail of a mouse or a rat. This
snake’s wavelike way of moving
means that only two small parts
of its body touch the ground at
any time, giving a better grip on
the shifting sand.

NAKED MOLE RAT

This hairless rat is virtually blind and

lives in underground tunnels in

groups called colonies. The colonies

are organized in a similar way to

an ant’s nest, with one queen

who gives birth to all

the young. Naked

mole rats feed only

on tubers that they

find in the soil.

PINK FAIRY ARMADILLO

Measuring only 6 in (15 cm) long, the pink fairy

armadillo lives in the deserts

of South America.

It leaves its tunnel

at nightfall to dig up

ants, worms, and

other food.

YUCCA MOTH

AND YUCCA PLANT

The yucca is a desert lily.

It has pale, scented

flowers that attract the

tiny female yucca moth.

The moth climbs into the

flower and gathers pollen,

and then flies to another

yucca. Here the yucca moth

lays its egg in the flower’s ovary

(egg-bearing part), and

transfers pollen. As

the yucca’s fruit ripens,

the moth caterpillar feeds

on it. The yucca moth and

the yucca flower could not

exist without each other.

CACTUS

The cactus stores water in

its swollen stem. Sharp prickles

protect it from plant-eating

animals. The cactus shown

here is called the prickly

pear cactus. The

fruit is edible.

Dorcas

gazelles

DATE PALM

The date palm tree has many

different uses. The nourishing

date fruit is food for people and

animals, the stringy bark and wood

are made into matting and ropes,

and the leaves are fashioned into

roofs and sunshades.

ADDAX

This large grazing antelope from

the Sahara never drinks—it obtains

enough water from its food. Like

other sandy desert dwellers, the

addax’s feet splay out widely to

spread the animal’s weight and keep

it from sinking in the sand. The

addax’s horns have spiral ridges.

The horns are used for defense

and in contests for control

of the herd.

DORCAS GAZELLE

Dorcas gazelles are found across northern

Africa, the Middle East, and India. They are

an endangered species because they are

being forced out of their natural habitat

by farm animals and crops.

Animals

Animal senses

Butterflies and moths

Camouflage, animal

Insects

Reptiles

Snakes