THE HOT DESERT

3 ANIMALS AND HOW THEY ADAPT

• Camel
• Sidewinder
• Deathstalker scorpion

THE CAMEL

• Eats desert vegetation.
• Long eyelashes prevent sand from getting in its eyes.
• Body temperature changes according to the weather.
• It's body system can conserve water for a long time.
• Thick eyebrows block sun from eyes.

SIDEWINDER

• Moves in a sideway motion so it can maintain balance.
• Camouflages itself in sand to ambush prey and avoid predators.
• The horns above its eyes protect them from the sun.
• Burrows underground when it sleeps so it wont be attacked.
• Plenty of lizards in the desert for it to eat!

DEATHSTALKER SCORPION

• It doesn't require water because it drinks liquids from prey.
• Can slow metabolism to three times as slow if needed.
• Can blend into the sand so it can ambush prey.
• It needs a high temperature to survive so the desert is a good habitat.
• Sting can slowly kill mammals and instantly kills insects/reptiles.

3 PLANT SPECIES AND HOW THEY ADAPT

• Barell Cactus: Conserves water in body and spikes protect it from being eaten.
• Octotillo: thin plant that can only grow on dry ground and drought tolerant.
• Brittle Bush: shrub that is heat and cold tolerant and keeps water in the body.

ON WORLD MAP

CLIMATE AND RELEVANT INFO

• The desert is hot and sunny throughout the whole year.
• Almost no rainfall.
• Lots of fossil fuel oil has been found benath the desert.
• Largest desert is the sahara desert in Africa.
• At least one desert is present in 6 of the continents.

Why is it important to us?
The desert is abundant in oil and oil powers up our planes, trains, cars and factories which are important.

POTENTIAL THREATS

• Global warming dries up water holes in the desert.
• Chemicals from oil and gold mines may kill plants and animals.
• High temperatures may cause fires which could kill plants.
• Nuclear waste being dumped in the desert.
• The desert being a nuclear testing site.