Behind its head is a decoy head; a fleshy growth with two large horns. Many animals and plants call this desert home. The discovery of 7-million-year-old dune deposits throughout northern Chad in 2006, however, suggests that the . The deathstalker is one desert animal you probably dont want to encounter. Fennec fox, the smallest fox in the world, is about 9.5 inches to 16 inches from the head down to the body. This encouraged both, animals and humans to move into the areas. Many animals that live in the desert have special adaptations to help them survive in this inhospitable environment. Many animals have found ways to thrive in deserts, and so have many plants. Dates, which are also farmed by humans, grow on these trees, providing a good source of sugar and water for desert animals. It has also been known to stand its ground against a jackal! Kangaroo rats have made several adaptations to enable them to survive in the desert, including: getting moisture from their seed diet; living in burrows during the day to avoid extreme heat; What is the climate of the Sahara Desert? The average temperature in April ranges from 27C (80.6F) - 16 C (60.8 F). They feed on grasses and leaves of desert plants and obtain water from their food and dew. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 after hundreds of amazing fossils were discovered in the area. Desertification can be caused . As one of the biggest and strongest vultures, the lappet-faced vulture will prevent other vultures from feeding on carrion it has found. The species is found in Asia, where it inhabits deserts (including the Gobi desert) and other dry, open habitats. However, they wont eat any animals droppings. In fact, it could be said that there is no finer example of the richness of evolution than a desert ecology. Viper is also listed as one of the venomous snakes in Indonesia. . Both the camels and the goats were at one time found in the wild, but currently, wild populations of these animals are quite rare. The climatic and geographical conditions makes it one of the very harsh and inhabitable regions on the planet. Females weigh around 12 kilograms and the males weigh 16 kilograms. The species is currently rated Vulnerable by the IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature). The ends of its horns curve inwards. Let us know in the comments below; wed love to hear your views! 18 Helpful Components of the Practice, What Is Point Source Pollution: Identifying the Culprit, Types Of Pollution You Should Know And How To Minimize It, Your Ultimate Guide to Energy Efficient Appliances and How To Save Money, Carrier Cor Thermostat Review: Offering Remote Control, Agricultural Pollution: What It Is and Why You Should Care, The Best Compost Bin Choices for Collecting Organic Material, The 10 Best Electric Lawn Mower Options for an Eco-Friendly Cut. Other noteworthy formations include the Ennedi Plateau of Chad, the Ar Massif of Niger, the Iforas Massif of Mali, and the outcroppings of the Mauritanian Adrar region. Sahara desert animals include many species of fox (pale fox, fennec fox etc. (Question sheet comes as a printable pdf file.). Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Australia has a small feral dromedary population made up of the descendants of animals introduced to the country by humans. Its surface is so large that it resembles the surface of countries such as China or the United States. Other organisms, although adapted more for a Mediterranean or tropical climate than an arid one, have persisted in the Sahara mostly by sticking to its slightly more hospitable highlands and oases. There are different kinds of gazelles in the Sahara Desert that can be hunted for meat. It inhabits deserts and other dry habitats, such as scrublands and grasslands. The Sahara Desert is usually imagined as a vast, parched, lifeless stretch of sandy landscape with scattered nomadic tribes and their domesticated camels. 70 mammalian species, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, and other smaller forms of life are found in the Sahara Desert. When threatened, the ostrich can fight back, kicking with its long legs. The name Sahara derives from the Arabic noun ar, meaning desert, and its plural, ar. The Fennec fox (Vulpes zerda) is the smallest canid species with unusually large ears that help dissipate heat. The Kangaroo Rat is preyed by the Sandy Rat. The Dorcas gazelles are considered as one of the smallest animals in the world. Monitor lizards not only include desert-thriving species in the Sahara, but also species which can live in forests or even wetlands. All Rights Reserved, 10 Incredibly Adaptive Sahara Desert Animals, 10 Largest, Biggest & Best Aquariums In the World, How Can Resource Conservation Benefit the Environment? It looks like it hardly ever rains here. Uniquely, it is the females of this species that leaves the pack when sexually mature instead of the males. Also known as the Ariel Gazelle, this animal is sleek and graceful, usually weighing around 25 kilograms. There are fewer than 400 individuals left in the wild, making it a critically endangered species. All of them have a white underbelly. Their body is well adapted to live in dry areas like sand dune fields, wadis, semi-deserts, and savannahs. The addax antelopes are highly adapted to live in the harsh desert conditions and can sustain themselves without water for indefinite periods of time. This type of scorpion is translucent and yellow in appearance, and is among the most venomous animals of the Sahara desert, and the entire world. 70 mammalian species, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, and several species of spiders, scorpions, and other smaller forms of life, call the Sahara Desert their home. The fruit is eaten by the Kangaroo Rat. It is characterized by its long, twisted horns and pale coat color which also lends it the name of white antelope. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Sahara is bordered in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Atlas Mountains and Mediterranean Sea, in the east by the Red Sea, and in the south by the Sahela semiarid region that forms a transitional zone between the Sahara to the north and the belt of humid savannas to the south. The Sahara Desert is the third largest desert and, with a hot and dry climate, fits our traditional view of the desert. In the central Sahara, the monotony of the plains and plateaus is broken by prominent volcanic massifsincluding Mount Uwaynat and the Tibesti and Ahaggar mountains. The highest point in the Sahara Desert is the volcano Emi Koussi in Chad. Hunting for meat and habitat loss threatens the survival of this species. The desert hosts the highly feared deathstalker scorpion, the extremely venomous sand viper, the elegant and fierce cheetah and other equally magnificent species. A kangaroo rat is a rodent found in desert areas in southwestern North America. Animals in the Sahara Desert include gazelle, deer, hyenas, ostriches, owls, crocodiles, lizards and cobras. The meerkat is a mammal in the mongoose family Herpestidae. Helpful for my project! A prominent feature of the plains is the dark patina of ferromanganese compounds, called desert varnish, that forms on the surfaces of weathered rocks. They have various colors, depending on the location in the Sahara Desert. Dama Gazelle. You can also see the average low and high temperatures. Also known as African hunting dogs, African wild dogs are equipped with unique patterns on their coat, consisting of black, brown, yellow and white colors. They have a single hump unlike the two humps of the Bactrian species. Deserts cover more than one-fifth of the Earth's land area, and they are found on every continent. As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, this site may earn from qualifying purchases. Animals. These cheetahs are more active at night so that they can avoid the extreme heat of the desert sun as well as to conserve water. You can see a list of desert plants here: Discover more about deserts on this page: Explore famous deserts from all around the world: Find out more about the deserts of North America: You can find out more about camel spiders here: You can find out more about scorpions here: You can find out more about this animal here: You can find out more about this species here: You can find out more about the Gila monster here: You can find out more about this desert species on this page: You can find out more about meerkats on this page: You can find out more about the Mojave desert tortoise here: Where found: Desert regions of the United States & Mexico. During the rainy season, the crocodiles emerge from their shelter and gather at gueltas. The fact that many species of plants and animals thrive even in these conditions is a great testament to the resourcefulness of life. Their diet consists of herd animals such as the Dorcas gazelle or the Addax antelope. Photo credit: Mohammed ali Moussa. Modern economic development has disrupted many of these traditional means of subsistence, however, with many desert dwellers seeking more lucrative opportunities in developed regions and oases. Horned vipers are nocturnal animals as they are more active at night. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Designart 'Desert in Western Sahara' Landscape Printed Throw at the best online prices at eBay! Privacy Policy | They have various colors, depending on the location in the Sahara Desert. They range in size from a few millimeters to 15 cm (6 in.) Saharan Spiny-Tailed Lizard. (An order is a group of related animals.) Plants and Animals of the Sahara Desert. The kit fox is a small canid (member of the dog family) found in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This is due mainly to habitat loss. A thick layer of fur on the fennec foxs paws provide grip and protection from the hot sand. Cheetahs, one of the fastest land animals in the world, can also be found in Sahara Desert. These gazelles feed on leaves, fruits, grasses, and shoots of desert plants. The presence of a pair of supraocular "horns" helps to easily distinguish this viper species from others. Temperatures above 35C (95F) have been recorded in . The species name comes from the way in which it moves; by anchoring its tail and pushing its head forwards, then pulling its tail forwards and repeating the process, it can move at high speeds over sand. It gives a light source to the Dragon Tree. The age of the Sahara has been a matter of some dispute. A 2020 study, whose results were published in 2021, found the species to be Critically Endangered. Sahara, (from Arabic ar, "desert") largest desert in the world. One of the best known species of tarantula hawk wasp is Pepsis grossa. The marsupial mole, an Australian desert animal, is an example of convergent evolution. Dromedary Camels. Tarantula hawk wasps are large wasps of genus Pepsis. A nocturnal, burrowing lifestyle helps them avoid the highest desert temperatures. You can also read these specific kind of desert animals you must know. Home Animal A-Z 6 Unique Animals in Sahara Desert You Never Know. This is a useful skill to have in a region that receives only 1.4 cm (0.55 in.) Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and . Jerboas move by hopping, in a similar way to kangaroos. They love animal dung so that they can get their food. Tiny grooves in the thorny devils skin transport water directly to its mouth. Despite its large . What is your favorite desert species? This desert insects water collecting abilities havent gone unnoticed; inventors are working on materials and products that utilize similar methods to collect water from the air! 8 Types of Small Birds That Have Good Voices. The monitor lizard is an extremely venomous reptile in the Sahara desert. The Sahara sits atop the African Shield, which is composed of heavily folded and denuded Precambrian rocks. The word ar shares its roots with the Arabic word aar, which translates to desert-like and specifically connotes the yellowish red color that characterizes the Saharas sandy expanses. we present some of the most iconic species of the Sahara Desert. The people of the Sahara also keep domesticated goats for milk and meat. Some jerboas can hop more than ten times their own body length! The North African ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) is the largest living bird in the world. Their bodies are also well-equipped so that they can survive in the cruelty of nature. Desert snails survive through aestivation (dormancy), often remaining inactive for several years before being revived by rainfall. Some of the fossils found include those of dinosaurs, petrified tree trunks, lizards . It looks and behaves very much like a true mole, but as a marsupial is only very distantly related to the animals from which it gets its name. Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook, Click on the image below to see this weeks animal, (Press your escape key or click the close button below to close this message.). They conserve energy by periodically entering torpor a state of reduced activity that resembles a mini-hibernation. Ostriches live in the Sahara Desert. Death Stalker Scorpion (Art/Flickr) This type of scorpion is translucent and yellow in appearance, and is among the most venomous animals of the Sahara desert, and the entire world. Animals of the Sahara Desert. The word "Sahara" is the Arabic word for desert. Not only do the ears help them to hear better in the desert, but they also help them to release body heat, keeping them cool. Occasionally, they also hunt hares. Sahara with its hyper-arid conditions, fierce winds, intense heat and temperature makes adaptability really a fascinating for both humans as well as for animals. Contact Us | Bactrian Camels reside in the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia and northern China. The color of the spots ranges from black to bright brown. . In fact, this is not only the largest desert in Africa but the largest warm-weather desert on Earth, about equal in size to the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. The Gila monster is a lizard found in a range of dry habitats throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Sadly, changes in the environment have caused the horned viper to enter the endangered species list. Sand Viper. It is closely related to the Bactrian camel, a domesticated species. As one of the largest deserts in the World, the Sahara Desert's plant life is scarce, with just roughly 500 species surviving due to the high temperatures and dry conditions. Its wingspan can reach 8.5 ft. (2.6 m). As its name suggests, the Mojave Desert tortoise is found in North Americas Mojave Desert. They are however very good at crossing the Sahara sands on their flat feet. Wow! A reintroduction program that began in the 1990s saw captive animals being released back into the wild. Author of. Each pack has two alphas: an alpha male and an alpha female. The timing is crucial: it has to be hot enough so that ant-eating lizards are forced to seek shelter. They use this venom for hunting the other insects and for proving more safety. While most of us are searching for ways to burn off fat and slim up our bodies, camels are actually evolved by nature to carry extra fat around to survive! It is a resident bird of dry savanna regions of Africa bordering the Sahara Desert. ANIMAL LIFE Hundreds of species exist in the Sahara desert, ranging from reptiles to mammals. A Complete Guide To Beetles, Wild Dog Species List: All Types Of Wild Dogs, With Pictures & Information, Weird Sea Creatures, Info, Pictures & Facts: Worlds Strangest Ocean Animals, Weird Insects List With Pictures & Facts, The Worlds Weirdest Insects, Weird Amphibians: List Of The Strangest Amphibians, Pictures & Interesting Facts, Weird Reptiles List Of The Weirdest Reptiles, Pictures & Interesting Facts, Weird Mammals List Of The Weirdest Mammals, Pictures & Interesting Facts, Nature News The Latest Wildlife News From Around The World. A number of other factors affect climatic variability within the Sahara as well: topography does so, as do ocean currents, the latter of which are responsible for the slightly cooler and more humid conditions found on the deserts western margins. Jack Rabbits can be hunted down in the Sahara Desert. The southern reaches of the Sahara end in the Sahel, a semiarid buffer zone that separates the desert from the more temperate savanna biomes beyond. The sidewinders venom is relatively weak compared to that of most other rattlesnakes. Animals such as the desert snail survive by using estivation, a period of dormancy that some animals can enter when encountering extreme environmental stress. The dromedary camel or the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), is the second largest camel species after the Bactrian camels. Pepsis grossa is found in the southern United States and Mexico. Currently, the bird is classified as Least Concern because of its widespread distribution. Updates? natural methods to control flies on cattle. Over much of the Sahara, these formations were covered by Mesozoic depositsincluding the limestones of Algeria, southern Tunisia, and northern Libya, and the Nubian sandstones of the Libyan Desertand many of the important regional aquifers are identified with them. 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