According to many views, a desert is an area where little life is possible. In some parts of the desert this is indeed true, but in the oases it is quite different. And especially in the evening when it cools down, the desert really comes to life. Jerboas, foxes, snakes, ground squirrels and a host of other animal species come out of their hiding place to eat.
What do desert animals eat?
Predators such as lizards, snakes, jackals, foxes and hawks are quite common in deserts. But as in other regions, herbivores are the most heavily represented. Swarms of insects feed on desert plants, especially after rain, when the dormant plant world comes to life. Antelopes, camels and other grazing animals nibble on the tough strands and leaves of thickets and the succulent shoots of succulents. Some rodents feast on fleshy bulbs and tubers; most, however, feed exclusively on the abundant seeds scattered across the desert floor.
Where do animals find water?
Waterholes are busy places in the desert. Birds and some of the larger mammals visit them regularly. But many other desert inhabitants can survive far from a water source.
For some species, the moisture from the morning dew is sufficient to meet their water requirements. Predators get much of the needed moisture from their prey’s body fluids. Succulents are a satisfactory water source for numerous herbivores.
Why do camels have humps?
Stories of camels wandering through the desert for days without food or water do not survive; these animals are remarkably well adapted to desert life. Contrary to popular belief, however, a camel does not store water in its stomach or hump.
Unlike most mammals, a camel does not have a fat layer under the skin. Instead, the fat is stored in the bump. When there is a shortage of food and water, the camel uses this reserve as energy and water source. When the fat is burned, hydrogen is released which combines with oxygen to form water. The animal also uses water from other body tissues in a similar manner.
A camel can last several days without drinking. As the tissues lose their water, the animal can lose as much as a quarter of its body weight without being harmed.
Which birds live in the desert?
Most desert birds are insectivores, followed by seed and fruit-eating species. The least numerous are the birds of prey. Most birds have not adapted especially to desert life; their water sources must therefore be within flying range. Some, such as owls and nightjar, are nocturnal, but most species are active in the early morning and evening.
The reproductive cycle of many desert birds is associated with the arrival of rains, when most of the food is available. In dry years fewer or no young are born.
Why is the desert suddenly blooming?
One square decimeter of desert soil usually contains many thousands of seeds, produced by plants that grow at an astounding rate after the seasonal rains. Some do this so quickly that they sprout, flower and set seed in less than two weeks, turning an arid landscape into a spectacular garden full of fragrance and color in a short time.
Why are many desert animals pale in color?
A great number of birds, mammals, reptiles and other animals from the desert are lighter in color than related species from other regions.
The pale color of these animals is part of the cooling mechanism of desert animals; after all, light colors reflect the sun’s rays, while dark colors absorb. Light colors also serve for camouflage and ensure that the animals stand out less against the light-tinted desert ground.
Some animals, especially lizards, have such an adapted temperature regulation system that they even change color as the day progresses. In the morning they are dark in color, later they gradually become paler at noon, when the sun is high in the sky, take on their lightest shade.
In the evening they darken again.