The desert is a forbidden area for humans and most animals in the world. However, there are some animals that are excluded such as camels, desert fish, etc. with their own mysteries.
The Sahara Desert covers up to 6% of the world’s land. Animals that want to survive in the desert must have at least two abilities. One is the ability to walk, because sandy soil can bury them at any time, and the second is the ability to store water because when water is lost, any organism must die. Desert animals have to deal with two main difficulties: keeping their body temperature from getting too hot and staying hydrated (humidity). Each desert animal has its own method of survival. Let’s explore the wonders of these extraordinary animals.
1. KANGAROO
A small rodent that lives in the deserts of the Western United States and Mexico. They have very well-developed hind legs while their front legs are quite small and their heads are much larger than their bodies. The length of the tail is greater than the one of the body and head combined. On both sides of their mouths there are cheek pouches that can be used to store food and they have the special ability to metabolize water from dry food.
Image of kangaroo
They do not drink water directly, instead they get water from food, mainly dry seeds. They also have the ability to reabsorb water from urine, helping them conserve the maximum amount of water in the body.
2. THORNY DEMON LIZARD
The Thorny Devil lizard has a unique feature: a layer of large sharp spikes on its back to help defend itself when needed. With sharp spines covering its entire body, the Thorny Devil lizard, also known as the Thorny Dragon, is like a prehistoric dinosaur, living in the desert in Australia, keeping all predators away.
These lizards have camouflage colors of desert brown and a color that change from light to dark depending on the weather. The spines on the back also have the effect of absorbing water. Capillary tubes in the spiny devil lizard’s skin help collect water from the moisture in the sand, then push it toward the mouth.
They mainly eat ants and can eat thousands of ants every day. When it gets colder in the early morning and evening, their skin darkens to absorb more solar radiation. But at noon and afternoon, when it is hotter, their skin is light in color to protect against the sun.
Image of Thorny Devil lizard
3. CAMEL
The camel is a great example of a mammal adapted to desert life. It minimizes its water loss by producing concentrated urine and dry feces, and can lose up to 40% of its body weight through dehydration without dying from dehydration. The camel, an animal often associated with the Sahara, appeared in the desert around 200 AD. Compared to the horses they replaced, their advantages were soft legs that allowed them to move quickly and easily through sand and the ability to survive for 17 days without food or water. They have the ability to survive without drinking water for days, even weeks. Their secret lies in the humps on their backs.
These humps do not contain water but fat. When needed, camels can convert fat into water. In addition, they have the ability to drink large amounts of water in a short time when they find a water source, storing water for the next dry days.
4. FENNEC FOX
The Fennec fox is a small nocturnal desert fox found in the Sahara Desert of North Africa. Its most distinctive feature is unusually large ears, which serve to dissipate heat. They are the smallest species in the Canid family, its fur, ears and kidney function have adapted to high temperatures, little water, and desert environments. In addition, its hearing is quite sharp and can hear prey moving underground. It mainly eats insects, small mammals, and birds. Their large ears also help them detect even the smallest noises in the quiet atmosphere of the desert. The sand fox’s hearing is especially sensitive. Weighing less than 1.4 kg, desert foxes live in sand dune holes during the day and hunt at night.
Image of fennec fox
5. DESERT FISH
It sounds like a paradox of nature, but no, these are truly extraordinary creatures that are daily overcoming all initial prejudices to exist in places where no one thought they could live, especially with humans. Types of fish organisms associated with and elements that are most scarce in the desert. They are like living fossils, a clear testament to the intersection between the history of underwater life and the adaptations that have existed over so many years to be able to survive in harsh and completely opposite conditions, associated with scarce and hot water sources, the ability of some desert fish species is recognized to reach extraordinary levels of adaptation – which is impossible for other species, especially when considering the temperature tolerance. Devils Hole small fish live in an extremely harsh environment. Sunlight only glimmers into the cave for short periods of time, food sources are scarce, and water temperatures range from 32°C to 38°C – much higher than most animals can tolerate. This makes them one of the relatively rare fish species that can withstand high temperatures in the world. Anyway, their longevity is not a very positive aspect, they only have a lifespan of 6 months to a year. In general, they are manifestations of extraordinary abilities that no one has thought of that play a key role in survival in completely different environments and contrary to the laws of nature.
Top 5 animals with the thrilling mysteries of how animals survive in the desert without drinking water and survive in harsh environments like the desert, which provide much useful information for effective farming.