Adaptations for deserts

Animals:

• In an animal’s body a number of complex biological processes are carried out.
• These processes can take place within a narrow range of temperature.
• If the range is exceeded, the organism dies.
• Desert animals have adapted themselves to live in their habitat.
• The camel has several adaptations to survive in the desert.
• Camel's long eyelashes and ear’s hair protect the eyes and ears from sand.
• Fat stored in its hump acts as a food reserve.
• Its long legs keep it further from hot sand.
• Broad feet help in walking on sand without sinking in it.

• It can drink a huge quantity of water at a time and can stay without water for a long time.
• Its body loses very little water in the form of urine.
• It can keep its nostrils closed to keep out sand.
• It doesn't drink water.
• It gets all the water it needs from its food (mostly seeds).
• The oxygen that it breathes in combines with food to produce water inside the body.
• Many desert animals and insects stay in deep underground burrows during the day to survive in hot conditions. e.g., the kangaroo rat.

Plants:

• Plants need to conserve moisture and energy in the dry desert.
• Many plants slow down growth for half of the year to conserve moisture.
• Plants also adapt to survive in the hot and dry climate of the deserts.
• Most plants have long roots that go deep into the soil in search of water.
• A cactus has the following modifications.
• The leaves are modified as spines to minimize water loss.

Cactus has spines to prevent loss of water

• The stem is green, to make food for the plant.
• The stem is swollen and fleshy to store water.
• Cactus has a thick, waxy coating that prevents water loss and helps it to retain water.

Stem of cactus plant

Ocotillo plant