A desert is a place that receives less than 10 inches of rain every year. However, all deserts are not exact. They can be rocky or wind-swept deserts that are uninhabitable to living creatures. They can be deserts that are densely packed with plants, particularly those that have evolved to hold water, like cacti and other succulents. Ergs are deserts that are hot and sandy. A large portion of the Sahara desert is an erg.
There are also warm deserts that receive just enough rainwater to support woody shrubs but not grasses. Not all deserts are hot, therefore Antarctica might be considered a type of desert. Even a sweltering desert may get unexpectedly cold at night. Animals from all over the world have adapted to live in these deserts, and there are some of them have.
Weird Desert Animals
1. Thorny Devil
No list of strange desert animals would be complete without mentioning lizards. No lizard contribution would be complete without mentioning the thorny devil (Moloch horridus), the sole species in the genus Moloch, named after an ancient, sacrifice-demanding god worshipped by the Cainites and described in the Hebrew Bible. Only in Australia can you find a thorny devil. They can grow to be a little over 8 inches (21 cm) long from nose to tail. They are coated in sharp spines that protect them from predators.
Thorny demons have two heads. The first is a fake head, a protuberance on the devil’s neck. When threatened, a thorny devil lowers its true head and displays the false head as a decoy. According to Bush Heritage Australia, thorny devils have a characteristic jerky movement that may confuse predators.
According to Bush Heritage Australia, thorny devils his frightening appearance. They are only a threat to ants, which eat them by the hundreds with their sticky mouths. These desert inhabitants “drink” through their skin.
They absorb dew and moisture from the sand through small channels between their scales. These straw-like passages guide precious drips to the lizards’ mouths. This is an example of the inventive hydration mechanisms that keep animals alive in the world’s driest locations.
2. Jackrabbit
The antelope jackrabbit is not a rabbit but it is a hare found in deserts. it is mostly found in the Sonoran Desert, Arizona & Northern Mexico. Its scientific name is Lepus alleni. It is among one of the largest North American hares.
They have large, long, and pointed ears, white underparts, buff neck and chest, and black / buff back. They were initially called “jackass rabbits” because they have donkey ears, but their name was later changed. With their muscular hind legs, they can run up to 40 miles per hour and leap up to 10 feet. This helps them to readily escape predators. Their diet includes cacti and mesquite leaves. (Mesquite is a small tree that grows in deserts and other dry habitats.)
3. Desert Pupfish
Cyprinodon macularius is a rare species of fish in the family Cyprinodontidae and is known by the common name desert pupfish. Desert pupfish are little, silvery fish that can live in dry regions. Pupfish have adapted to live in arid-region water. They can be found in the Salton Sea and its tributaries in California, as well as the lower Colorado River in Mexico.
These fish need to be remarkably resistant to survive in the few or brackish water sources of a desert. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, pupfish have special adaptations that allow them to survive in situations that would kill most fish. Pupfish can live in a wide range of water conditions, from fresh to 70 parts per thousand salt (most of the ocean is between 34 and 26 parts per thousand salt).
They can survive in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) and as high as 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42.2 C). They can even survive in water with as little as 0.1 parts per million (ppm) of oxygen (most warm-water fish require 5 ppm of oxygen to survive, according to Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants).
4. Hairy Desert Scorpion
The scorpion is an arachnid, similar to spiders. It has eight legs and poison. The albeit venom is administered via a stinger in the tail. The tail is segmented and is frequently carried curved over the body of the animal. These scorpions are 4 and 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 cm) long. They have drab olive-green color.
Scorpions romance by grabbing one other’s pincers and the male “dancing” the female over to a sperm package with the first set of legs. Females carry their young for six to twelve months, giving birth to up to 35 newborns who ride on their mother’s carapace until they are old enough to hunt on their own.
Fortunately for humans, desert hairy scorpions prefer to escape rather than sting, and their venom is mild. Most individuals compare the sting to that of a bee. Furthermore, when exposed to UV light, these fascinating creatures glow. They are found in North America’s Sonoran, Mojave, Nevada, and Utah desserts.
5. Dromedary
Camels are among the most well-known desert creatures. These hoofed mammals are abundant in many arid regions, where they have domesticated approximately 4,000 years ago. Camels are utilized for transportation as well as food and clothing.
There are three types of camels: single-humped dromedaries, two-humped Bactrians, and wild Bactrians. Camelus is the genus name for them.
The dromedary is by far the most common camel, accounting for 94% of all camels. It is now a domestic animal, most commonly seen in desert areas. Australia has a small feral dromedary population comprised of descendants of animals imported by humans.
The dromedary has several adaptations for desert life. These include bushy brows, double-layered eyelashes, and nostrils that may close fully to guard against sand storms. The dromedary can go for extended periods without drinking. Its hump stores both water and energy in the form of body fat.
6. Fennec Fox
The fennec fox is a type of mammal native to North Africa and the Middle East. Its body length is 16 inches. It is the smallest member of the dog family Canidae (41 cm).
The fennec fox has large ears, which can measure up to 15 cm (almost 6 in.) in length. When foxes hear the sound of rodents, insects, or other small animals they prey on, they dig them out in a sandstorm with all four paws.
The fox’s ears have a dual purpose: they not only give extra-sensitive hearing (which helps locate buried prey), but they also help to keep the fox cool. Body heat is dissipated into the air by blood vessels near the skin of the ears.
Fennec foxes are well-adapted to desert living in Africa and Arabia. Their whitish fur covers them against the sand and grows on the bottoms of their feet to provide traction while running in the sand. It also protects the hot desert surface. When the temperature rises, foxes can pant up to 690 times per minute to keep cool. Fennec foxes make complicated burrows to avoid the sun during the warmest portion of the day.
7. Screaming Hairy Armadillo
Its scientific name is Chaetophractus vellerosus. When threatened, these armadillos make a horrific cry that sounds similar to the wails of a newborn human baby. Research published in 2019 suggests that these screams are intended to frighten predators or draw other predators to the area, possibly distracting an assailant and allowing the armadillo to flee.
8. Lappet-Faced Vulture
The lappet-faced vulture is a huge predatory bird native to Africa and the Middle East. It has a bald, pink/redhead and a strong bill that measures nearly 4 in. (10 cm) long and 2 in. (5 cm) deep. It has 8.5-foot wingspan (2.6 m).
The lappet-faced vulture, like most vultures, is mostly a scavenger, though it is thought to seek live prey on occasion. The lappet-faced vulture is one of the largest and strongest vultures. It will prevent other vultures from feasting on the carrion it has discovered.
The vulture’s massive bill can rip through even strong skin, tendons, and bone. It acts as a ‘living tin opener,’ allowing smaller vultures and other scavengers to access carrion that would otherwise be inaccessible due to strong hides.
9. Mojave Desert Tortoise
Its scientific name is Gopherus agassizii.The Mojave Desert tortoise is found in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona to the north and west of the Colorado River. This secretive reptile is rarely seen. It spends up to 95% of its time burrowing or hiding in rock shelters.
The Mojave Desert tortoise constructs its burrows and spends the winter underground. A 2020 investigation, shows that this species is Critically Endangered. This is primarily due to habitat loss.
10. Desert Ironclad Beetle
The desert ironclad beetle is an insect tank. The powder-blue appearance is due to the waxy coating that aids the beetle in retaining moisture in the dry Sonoran desert. The bumps on the beetle’s shell give it an armored appearance, indicating that it is tougher than it appears. The exoskeleton of the ironclad beetle subfamily is extremely robust. It is so robust that certain beetles can withstand being stepped on by a person.
Desert ironclad beetles are also referred to as “death-feigning beetles”. This is due to their protective actions when confronted with danger. When disturbed, the insects roll over and pretend to be dead. They eat plants and decaying organic materials, and, like many desert dwellers, they rarely, if ever, require water.
11. Jerboas
Jerboas are a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. They live in deserts and other dry environments of Northern Africa, Asia, and Australia. It is a medium-sized rodent with kangaroo-like legs.
Jerboas move by hopping, much like kangaroos. They have short forelimbs and long, muscular hind legs. When hopping or standing upright, the jerboa’s long tail aids in balance. Jerboas can jump more than ten times their body length.
They have special features for living in the desert such as sandy-colored coats. It provides a covering & a burrowing lifestyle. They are active at night and avoid the hottest hours of the day.
12. Long-Eared Bat
Its scientific name is Otonycteris hemprichii. It is commonly present in North Africa and the Middle East. Its favorite meal is scorpions. They hunt scorpions by falling from the sky and dragging the venomous arachnids to the ground. The bats are unconcerned about the scorpion stings that they endure during the process.
13. Red-Spotted Toad
Its scientific name is Anaxyrus punctatus. It lives in the dry habitats of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Its length is 3 inches. It has pale olive-green skin that is marked with red spots & black patches.
14. Saharan Silver Ant
Its scientific name is Cataglyphis bombycina. The body of the ant has tiny hair which gives it a silver appearance. This reflects the hot desert sun and protects the insect from overheating. It has long legs which keep its body away from the hot sand. They came out only for 10 min/per day.
15. Sidewinder
Its scientific name is Crotalus cerastes. It is a species of rattlesnake that lives in the desert areas of California, Nevada, Utah, Northern Mexico, and Arizona. It can slither at speeds of up to 18 mph (29 km/h) using its strange sideways crawl.
Sidewinders hunt for ambushes. They bury themselves in the sand, only their eyes visible above. They snap forward and spring the trap when a lizard passes by. These snakes strike in the blink of an eye, shooting poison into their prey’s blood and nervous system.
The species’ name originates from the way it moves. it can move at great speeds across the sand by anchoring its tail and pushing its head forward, then drawing its tail forward and repeating the process. Although the snake’s head is pointing in the right direction, its body looks to be going sideways.
Other desert snakes use a similar method of movement known as sidewinding. The sidewinder is also known as the horned rattlesnake due to the horn-like scales that protrude from above its eyes.
Its bite is extremely painful but rarely fatal. The venom of the sidewinder is weaker than that of most other rattlesnakes.