What is the climate like in the desert? What kinds of life can you find there? How do they handle the conditions in the desert?

There are a couple of things that make deserts different from other places on Earth. First, deserts are very dry. This is because they get only a small amount of rainfall each year. Some deserts may go for a whole year or more with NO rain!! Second, deserts have very hot days and very cold nights. Even though the desert is too harsh for most forms of life, there are plants and animals that can survive in these tough conditions.

Many animals that live in deserts only come out at night when it's cool. They sleep during the hot days in cool caves or underground burrows. These animals also have special coverings to keep their skin from drying out--like the scales you see on the skin of snakes and lizards.

Many plants that live in deserts have very short lives. They must sprout, grow, and make seeds for new baby plants in just a few short weeks. These plants do all their growing during the desert's rainy season which may only last a few days! Other plants, like the big cactus in the picture, keep water stored inside their stems. The spines help protect it from animals that might try to sneak a drink!

What is the climate like in the desert? What kinds of life can you find there? How do they handle the conditions in the desert?

Deserts have very little rainfall in a year--usually less than 10 inches (25 cm). Because there is very little moisture in the air to hold onto the heat from the hot days, desert nights tend to be very cold. Taken together, the extreme temperature fluctuations and lack of water make the desert environment a very harsh one in which to live. The plants and animals you will find there have a wide variety of special features that allow them to cope with desert conditions.

Because food and water are hard to find, desert animals live in ways that require very little energy and waste little water. For example, snakes, scorpions, and lizards that must hunt other animals for food use poisonous venoms to kill their prey--this saves the hunter energy that would be needed to chase, catch, and fight its prey to the death.

To help save water during the hot days, many desert animals are "nocturnal", meaning they are active only at night. These animals sleep during the day in cool underground burrows or in caves and come out at night to find food. Many animals also have protective coverings to keep them from drying out, like the scaly skins of snakes and lizards, and the hard outer coverings of insects.

Plants also need to save valuable water. Plants known as "ephemerals" have very short lives. They can sprout from seed, grow, produce flowers, and make seeds for the next generation in only 2-4 weeks! Their rapid growth takes place during the desert's short rainy season which may last only a few days to a few weeks. Seeds from these plants have special waterproof coverings that keep them from drying out. The seeds will simply wait until the next year's rainy season to sprout and start the cycle over again.

Plants that live long lives, like the big saguaro cactus pictured here, store water inside their stems. Tough outer coverings help prevent water loss and protective spines and thorns help keep animals from stealing a drink.

What is the climate like in the desert? What kinds of life can you find there? How do they handle the conditions in the desert?

Deserts are characterized by very low rainfall, usually less than 10 inches (25 cm) per year. Because there is very little vegetation or moisture in the air to retain heat, the hot days deserts are best known for are usually followed by very cold nights. Taken together, the extreme temperature fluctuations and lack of water make the desert environment a very harsh one in which to live. The plants and animals you will find there have a wide variety of adaptations that allow them to cope with desert conditions.

Because food and water are relatively scarce, desert animals have evolved habits that require very little energy and waste little water. For example, snakes, scorpions, and lizards that rely on hunting other animals for food are equipped with highly toxic venoms to kill their prey--this saves the hunter energy that would otherwise be needed to chase, catch, and fight its prey to the death.

To help conserve water that could be lost during the hot days, many desert animals are "nocturnal", meaning they are active only at night. These animals sleep during the day in cool underground burrows or in caves and come out at night to find food. Many animals also have protective coverings to keep them from drying out, like the scaly skins of snakes and lizards, and the hard outer coverings of insects.

Plants also need to save valuable water. Plants known as "ephemerals" have very short life cycles. They can sprout from seed, grow, produce flowers, and make seeds for the next generation in only 2-4 weeks! Their rapid growth allows them to take advantage of the desert's short rainy season which may last only a few days to a few weeks. The newly formed seeds have special waterproof coverings that prevent them from drying out. They will simply wait until the next year's rainy season to sprout and start the cycle over again.

Longer-lived plants, like the big saguaro cactus pictured here, store water inside their stems. Tough outer coverings help prevent evaporation and protective spines and thorns keep animals from stealing the water they store inside.

Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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