DESERTS

Desert covers more than one-third of the world's land.

Australia with the exception of Antarctica is the driest continent. Nearly 50% of it has less than 25 centimetres of rainfall per year. Deserts are some of the hottest places in the world, places where it is difficult for plants and animals to live. Deserts are known for their extreme temperatures, it can be very hot during the day and still go below freezing at night. There is little rainfall and any rain that falls evaporates quickly. The desert is home to many different plants and animals.

They use different eays to cope with the hot sun. Some by burrowing underneath the sand. Sand is cooler than the desert surface. Mammals like the naked mole rat rarely leave their burrows. Others, like the North African fennec fox, rest during the day and hunt at night. North American kangaroo rats, North African jerboa, and American ground squirrels also avoid the scorching sun by coming out only at dawn and dusk. To cope with the lack of water, animals have developed a variety of techniques. The addax (a Saharan antelope), never needs to drink because it gets all of its water from its food. The kangaroo rat saves water by eating its own droppings. A spiny Australian lizard soaks up water from the damp sand through its special scales. Camels conserve water in reserves by adjusting their body temperature. As food and water are very hard to find animals live in ways that need little energy and water. Many animals are"nocturnal" meaning they hunt and move most of the time after dark.

Why do you think they do this?

Look at the diagram below and see some of the different ways plants and animals protect themselves from the harsh conditions in the desert.Many animals have protective coverings to keep them from drying out. Can you think of any examples? Look at the picture for help.Others make burrows in the sand.Many animals in the desert have big ears or big arms and legs to help them release heat. Look for one in the diagram.Some animals only come out after the rains. They lie dormant or hibernate when it is very hot.

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