Many plants and animals in the desert have amazing adaptations that help them to survive in their fluctuating biome. The organisms have acclimated to their varying biome in many, interesting ways. Some animals employ camouflage to hide from their predators, or are nocturnal and come out only at night to eat and/or avoid being eaten. Snakes in the desert biome use various patterns to blend in with desert sands, and have lightning reflexes to snatch a meal. A lot of the desert snakes are also nocturnal.
Many plants and animals in the desert have amazing adaptations that help them to survive in their fluctuating biome. The organisms have acclimated to their varying biome in many, interesting ways. Some animals employ camouflage to hide from their predators, or are nocturnal and come out only at night to eat and/or avoid being eaten. Snakes in the desert biome use various patterns to blend in with desert sands, and have lightning reflexes to snatch a meal. A lot of the desert snakes are also nocturnal.
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| This viper is almost invisible among the small rocks surrounding it. |
Plants also have some interesting adaptations. The well-known cactus has spines in place of leaves for protection and for water preservation during drier periods. It, and many other plants in the arid areas, have shallow root systems that cover lots of space. Other plants take advantage of rainier seasons and only grow during these times, and become dormant after the rain has passed. These are known as ephemeral plants.
The desert experiences a drastic change in temperature from day to night and vice versa, so the plants and animals must be able to adjust accordingly. Some animals have big ears to let heat out during the day, or small ones to conserve heat at night. Normally, the small-eared animals are nocturnal, like a coyote, and the big-eared are diurnal, for example a hare.
This is an interactive project that visually represents some of the adaptations that animals have.
The desert experiences a drastic change in temperature from day to night and vice versa, so the plants and animals must be able to adjust accordingly. Some animals have big ears to let heat out during the day, or small ones to conserve heat at night. Normally, the small-eared animals are nocturnal, like a coyote, and the big-eared are diurnal, for example a hare.
This is an interactive project that visually represents some of the adaptations that animals have.