15 Strange Desert Animals

The desert is not the only place to call home. Boiling during the day, freezing at night, and lacking abundant water, this scene has challenged its inhabitants. The animals that call the desert home have adaptations to help them survive and thrive in this harsh environment. Many of these animals do not need to drink and have skins or shells to collect the little water they need; Some have evolved to move and are only active at night to avoid the scorching sun. Here are 15 strange animals found in the world's deserts.

Finch

Desert animals don't come much cuter than the finch fox ( Vulpes zerda ). These juvenile canids are smaller than domestic cats, measuring 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 cm) in length and have large ears that are 4 to 6 inches (10 cm) long, not counting their tails. 0.2 to 15.2 cm). These ears help the fox escape from the heat and hear the predators under the sand. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo , when foxes hear mice, insects or other small animals with money, they use their four paws to dig holes in the wet sand.

The fennec fox is adapted to life in the deserts of Africa and Arabia. Their pale hair hides them from the sand; Running on the sand grows on the shoes and protects the feet from the hot desert. As the air temperature increases, the fox can breathe 690 times per minute to cool itself. Fennec foxes dig elaborate burrows to hide from the sun during the hottest part of the day.

The hairy armadillo cried

The howling woolly armadillo ( Chaetophractus velerosus ) may be less cute than the finch fox, but no less in desert conditions. This armadillo literally screams; When threatened, they let out a cry of terror like a newborn baby. In the year A study published in 2019 suggests that these calls are used to scare predators or attract another predator to the area, possibly distracting the attacker and allowing the armadillo to escape.

The hairy armadillo weighs only 1.9 pounds (0.86 kg) and makes a light growl. According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo , they live in the Monte Desert in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, preferring loose, sandy soil as burrows. Armadillos don't drink much. Their kidneys are very efficient and they get the water they need from the plants they eat. This is a harsh desert environment, so howling hairy armadillos are opportunistic eaters – they also eat insects and small animals like lizards and mice.

Hairy desert scorpion

Among the many species of desert scorpions, the hairy desert scorpion ( Hadrurus arizonensis ) stands out. According to the Hoogle Zoo in Utah , this scorpion can reach a length of 4 to 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 cm), making it the largest scorpion in North America. Despite their pale olive green color, desert scorpions' hair glows in ultraviolet (UV) light. No one knows exactly why scorpions fly, but the best way to spot these shy nocturnal predators is to go out into the desert on summer nights when they are most active under UV rays.

Hairy desert scorpions are found in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts of North America, as well as Nevada and Utah. When male and female desert scorpions attempt to mate, they engage their claws in a wrestling-like dance. In fact, if the male does not run away after depositing his sperm, it may be his mate.

Females carry their young for 6 to 12 months, give birth to up to 35 young, and stay in their mother's shell until they are old enough to hunt for themselves. Fortunately for humans, the desert hairy scorpion prefers to run rather than sting, and its venom is relatively weak. For many people, the sting is like a bee.

Harris Falcon

Harris's eagle ( Parabuteo unicinctus ) is the oddball of the falcon world. This magnificent red-winged raptor sometimes hunts in groups, working together to find prey among the bushes, shrubs, and saguaro cacti of Arizona's Sonoran Desert. Birds eat lizards, other birds and small desert mammals such as kangaroo rats and ground squirrels. According to non-profit conservation organization Audubon , when they catch large animals, they share the meat with other hunters.

These birds often work in groups to raise their young. Two males can mate with one female, and all three work together to maintain a succession of offspring. And the falcon brothers help each other; Older seeds can be fed to young seeds in early summer.

Iron desert beetle

The desert iron beetle ( Asbolus verrucosus ) is an aquatic insect. Their pale blue color comes from a waxy coating that helps the insects retain moisture in the dry Sonoran desert. The ridges on the beetle's shell give it a tougher armored appearance than it actually is. According to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , a subfamily of iron beetles are known for their incredibly strong exoskeletons, so strong that these insects ignore the fact that someone is stepping on them.

Desert iron beetles are known as "playing dead bugs" for their defensive behavior when threatened. According to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the beetles roll over and die when they wake up. They feed on plants and decaying organic matter and, like many desert dwellers, do not need to drink.

Sand cat

A more gentle and melancholic inhabitant of the desert is the desert sand cat ( Felis margarita). It is the only cat species that lives in real deserts. Desert sand cats are found in the Sahara Desert, the Arabian Peninsula, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Although they closely resemble domestic cats, sand cats are invisible and rarely seen by humans. According to Canada's International Society of Cat Breeders (ISEC) , they are extremely secretive and difficult to track. Researchers who have tried to see these animals in the wild have found that cats' fur-covered paws leave no marks and their light fur makes them difficult to identify. Cats also huddle and shield their eyes from nighttime lights, which hide their reflective retinas.

The sand cat is a secretive predator, capable of killing snakes as well as desert rats and lizards. Their mating call is similar to the barking of a dog.

Desert long-eared bat

The long-eared desert bat ( Otonycteris hemprichii ), once called "the world's strongest bat," is native to North Africa and the Middle East. What gave this species of bat such a nickname? Well, the main food is scorpion.

Desert-eared bats drop from the sky, hunting scorpions and battling venomous arachnids. According to research at Ben-Girion University in the Negev, Israel, bats often don't mind multiple scorpion stings in the process. Ben-Gurion University researchers also found that long-eared desert bats change their sonar settings, using one echolocation to hunt ground animals such as squirrels and the other to hunt flying insects.

Pink cockatoo

Colorful birds are usually found in rainforests and are rarely found in arid areas except in the Australian outback. One of the continent's most popular bird species is the pink cockatoo ( Lophochroa ledbeateri ), which lives in semi-arid and arid conditions outside of Australia.

According to the Australian Museum , the pink cockatoo, known for its distinctive orange-yellow crest and red body, is divided into two subspecies, one found in west-central Australia and the other in the east. This beautiful bird eats seeds and insects. According to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Trust (FNPW), they mate for life and can be seen climbing tree branches to attract a mate.

According to FNPW, this iconic Australian bird goes by many different names and nicknames. They are also known as Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (after the first British explorer to write about them to an international audience), as well as the Leadbeater's Cockatoo, the Desert Cockatoo, the Rooster, the Chocklots and, surprisingly, the Little Juggler.

Sidewinder

Maybe a snake that screams "desert" hangs out on the sandbar, leaving a strange, swirling trail. According to the Smithsonian Canal, the slider ( Crotalus cerastes ) can glide at speeds up to 18 miles per hour (29 km/h), with exceptional lateral traction—even on loose sand .

Sidewinder is an ambush hunter. They sink into the sand, leaving only their eyes to look up. When the lizards move, they jump forward and open a trap. This snake attacks the eyelids by injecting venom that attacks the blood and nervous system of the unsuspecting victim.

Sidewinders are found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They are distinguished by the famous horn structure that covers their eyes, which prevents sand from entering their eyes.

The son of the desert

A fish in the desert? The desert spawner ( Cyprinodon maculalis ) is a small silverfish that survives well in dry conditions. Cocoons have evolved to germinate in flowing water in dry areas. They are found in the Salton Sea and tributaries of California, as well as in the lower Colorado River in Mexico.

These fish need great endurance to survive in small or poor desert waters. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife , special adaptations allow the hatchlings to survive conditions that would otherwise be fatal to most fish. Cocoon water can contain up to 70 parts per thousand of salt (most oceans have a salinity of 34 to 26 parts per thousand). They can live in water temperatures from 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) to 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 degrees Celsius). In fact, they can survive in water with only 0.1 parts per million (ppm) of oxygen (according to the Florida Center for Aquatic Plants and Invasive Plants , most warm water fish need 5 parts per million of oxygen in water to survive).

Despite their resilience, California desert cubs are threatened by the introduction of non-native species and habitat loss.

Thorn monster

The list of exotic desert animals is incomplete without mentioning lizard species. And no mention of the lizard species would be complete without mentioning Moloch, the thorny devil ( Moloch horridus ), the only species worshiped by the Canaanites and named after the ancient god of sacrifice mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Spiny Devil is only available in Australia. They measure more than 21 cm from nose to tail and are covered with sharp spines used to protect them from predators.

The thorn demon also has two heads - it has. One of them is a false head, which stands out on the demon's neck. When threatened, the thorn demon lowers its real head and offers a false head as bait. According to Bush Heritage Australia , the spiny devil has a distinctive, bumpy gait that can confuse hunters.

According to Bush Heritage Australia, although they are as scary as thorn devils, they are more dangerous to ants, which can terrorize thousands with their sticky tongues. These desert dwellers "drink" their skin, collecting dew and moisture from the sand in the small lines between the scales. The straw-like channels that funnel precious droplets into the lizard's mouth are an example of an innovative hydration system that allows animals to survive in some of the driest places on Earth.

Sahara silver ant

The Saharan silver ant ( Cataglyphis bombisina ) gets its name from its silky silver coat. Yes, these ants have hair.

Unlike most desert animals, the Saharan silver ant feeds in the middle of the day, where temperatures in the Sahara can reach 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius). This technique helps them avoid predators, but they have to be very efficient in cooling. A 2015 study in the journal Science found that ants' silver hairs help them reflect and radiate sunlight and heat in the electromagnetic spectrum, keeping the insects cool.

crazy

According to Cornell Labs, the charming owl ( Micrathene whitneyi ) is about the size of a sparrow, making it the world's smallest raptor. Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, this owl nests in old woodpecker holes, large saguaro cacti, or trees. According to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, they avoid the heat of the desert during the day and instead use their excellent eyesight and hearing to hunt at night, stalking prey such as scorpions, insects and centipedes.

Eagle tarantulas

Tarantulas aren't hawks: they're a group of raptors that hunt, you guessed it, tarantulas. These wasps are found worldwide, but some species found in the United States are found in the desert southwest. For example, Pepsis thisbi is a species of tarantula that lives in the Grand Canyon. According to the National Park Service, this species of wasp has bright orange wings and can grow up to 2 inches (5 cm) long.

What really makes these tarantulas unique is their habit of using tarantulas as live food for their larvae. The tarantula hawk paralyzes the tarantula with its poison, takes it to its nest and locks it inside, laying eggs in the spider's stomach. As they grow, the larvae feed on the paralyzed tarantula, eventually saving vital organs.

The biggest billiards

Much like a cross between a wolf and a rabbit, the great nightingale ( Macrotis lagotis ) lives in the deserts and prairies of Australia. This cute animal is the size of a domestic cat. They spend their days in tunnels dug in the arid Australian soil and spend their nights foraging for food such as termites, tubers and tubers. According to Bush Heritage Australia, like many other desert animals, bilbies get all the moisture they need from their food.

Originally published on April 12, 2022 and updated on January 27, 2023.