If that isn't an option, you may need to forage or hunt for various foods in the desert. It's located across northern Africa, and temperatures can reach up to 134 . 1. When threatened, the ostrich can fight back, kicking with its long legs. They conserve energy by periodically entering torpor a state of reduced activity that resembles a mini-hibernation. The Gila monster is a lizard found in a range of dry habitats throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Viper is also listed as one of the venomous snakes in Indonesia. Although a bite from a Gila monster is painful, to most healthy humans it isnt life-threatening. These Sahara Desert animals have adapted well to their environment and their bodies are well-equipped to survive in the cruelty of nature. Deserts Of The World With Facts & Pictures, Click here to get your free desert animals question sheet, Rainforest Animals List with Pictures & Facts, Arctic Animals List with Pictures & Facts, Antarctic Animals List with Pictures & Facts, Australian Animals List with Pictures & Facts, African Animals List with Pictures & Facts, Animals: The Ultimate Guide to the Animal Kingdom, Mesozoic Era Animals List: Amazing Animals That Lived In The Mesozoic Era, Beetle Facts: What Is A Beetle? The tarantula hawk wasp is the state insect of New Mexico. Both these adaptations help them survive the extreme heat of the desert. Using its specially-adapted wing-cases, the beetle can collect minute droplets of water from the early morning fog. Among the top predatory animals that live in the Sahara Desert is the Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki). Other organisms, although adapted more for a Mediterranean or tropical climate than an arid one, have persisted in the Sahara mostly by sticking to its slightly more hospitable highlands and oases. Many animals have found ways to thrive in deserts, and so have many plants. The Dorcas gazelles are considered as one of the smallest animals in the world. All of them have a white underbelly. One of the least studied species of fox, the pale foxs habitat stretches from Senegal to Sudan. A nocturnal, burrowing lifestyle helps them avoid the highest desert temperatures. However, they wont eat any animals droppings. Many animals and plants call this desert home. This characterful desert animal lives in groups that can contain up to 50 individuals. The people of the Sahara also keep domesticated goats for milk and meat. Oil, natural gas, and coal reserves have been discovered all over northern Africa and particularly have been exploited by various countries, such as Egypt, Libya, and Algeria. This small toad is found in deserts and other dry habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This desert is full of large oasis depressions, shallow basins, sand seas, dunes and sheets, rocky plateaus, mountains and gravel plains. The name Sahara is taken from the Arabic word for 'desert'. The Sahara includes at least part of 10 countriesMorocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Sudanplus the territory of Western Sahara. Filling nearly all of northern Africa, it measures approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from east to west and between 800 and 1,200 miles from north to south and has a total area of some 3,320,000 square miles (8,600,000 square km); the actual area varies as the desert expands and contracts over time. The spiny-tailed lizard grows to up to 34 cm in size. A desert specialist, the Arabian sand gazelle was once found throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Another species of venomous viper, the Cerastes cerastes also lives in the Sahara. Apart from the dromedary camel and goats, the desert hosts the highly feared deathstalker scorpion, the extremely venomous sand viper, the elegant and fierce cheetah, the graceful gazelles, the swift-footed red-necked ostrich and other unique and magnificent species. Saharan rock art is a significant area of archaeological study focusing on artwork carved or painted on the natural rocks of the central Sahara desert.The rock art dates from numerous periods starting c. 12,000 years ago, and is significant because it shows the culture of ancient African societies.. The greater roadrunner is one of two species of roadrunner, the other being the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox), which is found in Mexico and Central America. Another adaptation for life in the desert is dense hair on the soles of the feet. 10 Golden Jackal. The conditions may be daunting, but the animals that live there are up for the challenge. Compared to the other species of cheetahs, Saharan cheetahs are a bit different. The species is currently rated Vulnerable by the IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature). However, populations of this bird are estimated to be declining steadily. The Sahara exhibits great climatic variability within its borders, with two major climatic regimes differentiating along a north-south axis: the deserts northern latitudes are arid subtropical and have two rainy seasons, while the southern ones, although also arid, are more tropical and have only one rainy season. The climatic and geographical conditions makes it one of the very harsh and inhabitable regions on the planet. Horned vipers are nocturnal animals as they are more active at night. The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world and the third largest desert (area wise) falling right after Antarctica and the Arctic. Fennec foxes dwell in the sandy Sahara and . Most camel spiders are desert animals, although some are found in grasslands and forests. The Sahara desert is an incredibly diverse habitat and it is home to a variety of animals. Archaeological findings indicate that there were once ancient Saharan lakes, upon the shores of which humans lived, hunted, and fished. Although the snakes head points in the direction of travel, its body appears to be moving sideways. Listed below are 50 of these animals that continuously survive living in the Sahara Desert. 2. One animal you probably think about when you think about the desert is the Sahara desert camel. Behind its head is a decoy head; a fleshy growth with two large horns. Deserts cover more than one-fifth of the Earth's land area, and they are found on every continent. The Sahara Desert is usually imagined as a vast, parched, lifeless stretch of sandy landscape with scattered nomadic tribes and their domesticated camels. Are there any other desert animals you think should be on this list? There are two living species of camel, the Dromedary Camel and the Bactrian Camel. Desert Biome Locations, Animals & Plants | What is Desert Biome Climate? Also known as the Ariel Gazelle, this animal is sleek and graceful, usually weighing around 25 kilograms. They look ephemeral and fragile, but they are incredibly dangerous, capable of causing respiratory failure and death. Because living things need water to survive, deserts are home to relatively few plants and animals (especially when compared to habitats such as rainforests, jungles and oceans). The desert iguana is active during the day even in high temperatures. Jerboas move by hopping, in a similar way to kangaroos. Home Animal A-Z 6 Unique Animals in Sahara Desert You Never Know. 70 mammalian species, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, and other smaller forms of life are found in the Sahara Desert. Only about 250 mature adults of this critically endangered species survive today. (60 cm) in length including the tail, which is around 1 times the length of the body. There are several ways that scarabs can make use of the dung they find, depending on how flexible they feel about their living situations. These animals are well adapted to the extreme conditions in the region. Lizards, chameleons, skinks, and cobras are found among the rocks and dunes. Corrections? Youtube Halosehat, Adchoices | A critically endangered species, the addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus) is rarely sighted in the Sahara. They usually live in a community composed of 10 individuals led by males. Jack Rabbits can be hunted down in the Sahara Desert. At that time, people used the barter system, trading food and animals without the exchange of money.Today the Sahara Desert's population is around 4 million with the majority of the people living in Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Western Sahara, and Algeria. The Sahara Desert hosts an incredible array of species that are well-adapted to survive in the extreme desert climate. 8 Types of Small Birds That Have Good Voices. Like the gazelle, the Addax antelope is well known for its sleekness and its beauty. Among all animals, this is the deadliest animal in the Sahara desert. For more details, and a selection of other question sheets, see this page: Free Printable Worksheets. The North African ostrich (Struthio camelus camelus) is the largest living bird in the world. The desert is a barren place where both animals and plants make a tough go at life. Omissions? A 2020 study, whose results were published in 2021, found the species to be Critically Endangered. The dromedary camel or the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), is the second largest camel species after the Bactrian camels. The age of the Sahara has been a matter of some dispute. They mainly hunt at night. The species grows to around 24 in. The southern reaches of the Sahara end in the Sahel, a semiarid buffer zone that separates the desert from the more temperate savanna biomes beyond. Designated as vulnerable by the IUCN, only 35,000-40,000 of these animals exist today. However, the Sahara holds much more life than that. The onager is one of the worlds fastest mammals. Texas A&M University. Keep on reading my other blogs to find out about endangered animals as well as extinct animals in the Sahara . They are herbivores and they mainly feed on the Pancratium plants. The largest desert in Africa is the Sahara. Sand sheets and dunes cover approximately 25 percent of the Saharas surface. Desert snails survive through aestivation (dormancy), often remaining inactive for several years before being revived by rainfall. Photo: Bjrn Christian Trrissen, (cropped / resized by ActiveWild.com) [CC BY-SA 3.0]The silvery appearance of this African desert ant is caused by tiny hairs on its body; a special adaptation that reflects the hot desert sun, preventing the insect from overheating. The Arabian oryx is the smallest of the four antelopes in the genus oryx. You can see a list of desert plants here: Discover more about deserts on this page: Explore famous deserts from all around the world: Find out more about the deserts of North America: You can find out more about camel spiders here: You can find out more about scorpions here: You can find out more about this animal here: You can find out more about this species here: You can find out more about the Gila monster here: You can find out more about this desert species on this page: You can find out more about meerkats on this page: You can find out more about the Mojave desert tortoise here: Where found: Desert regions of the United States & Mexico. The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. These gazelles are active between dusk to dawn when they forage for leaves, fruits, twigs, and flowers of desert vegetation. At first look, golden jackal resembles a small wolf. Sand Viper. More subtle has been the progressive loss of well-adapted, more mobile species to the advanced firearms and habitat destruction of humans. The fennec fox is known for its distinctive long ears, which are up to 15 cm (almost 6 in.) The word "Sahara" is the Arabic word for desert. The Dorcas gazelles are considered as one of the smallest animals in the world. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Some examples of desert animals include snakes, lizards, scorpions, camels, foxes, big cats, and antelopes. Desertification can be caused . Sandgrouses are birds in the family Pteroclidae. There are three camel species: the single-humped dromedary, and the two-humped Bactrian and Wild Bactrian. 3. Despite their minuteness, they can run up to 16 miles per hour, making them quite challenging to catch. They are able to subsist almost entirely on animal waste. Let us know in the comments below; wed love to hear your views! Also known as the Asiatic wild ass, the onager is a hoofed mammal in the horse family Equidae. The Mojave Desert tortoise digs its own burrows, and will hibernate underground during the winter. Modern economic development has disrupted many of these traditional means of subsistence, however, with many desert dwellers seeking more lucrative opportunities in developed regions and oases. Though boasting an extremely low primary productivity, the Sahara does manage to support some life. Even after these lakes ceased to exist, humans survived for centuries in the desert using alternative methods: nomadic pastoralists herded goats, sheep, or camels to whatever pasturage could be found; sedentary agriculturalists, confined to oases, harnessed their limited water resources to grow crops such as date palms and barley; and specialists (for example, blacksmiths) traded wares with their agriculturalist and pastoralist neighbors. The desert hosts the highly feared deathstalker scorpion, the extremely venomous sand viper . A sting from this fearsome arachnid is extremely painful and potentially fatal. While many people think of deserts as lifeless locations, they are actually quite diverse and rich in life. A number of other factors affect climatic variability within the Sahara as well: topography does so, as do ocean currents, the latter of which are responsible for the slightly cooler and more humid conditions found on the deserts western margins. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, The Sahara Sea: A Hypothetical Project To Create A Sea In The Sahara Desert. (41 cm). It has been recorded that about 100 reptilian species, 90 avian species, 70 mammalian species, and a wide array of different animal species are found in the Sahara Desert. Animals in the Sahara Desert include gazelle, deer, hyenas, ostriches, owls, crocodiles, lizards and cobras. They are small and doing dirty work so that the ecosystem can be kept healthy. Their body is well adapted to live in dry areas like sand dune fields, wadis, semi-deserts, and savannahs. It lives underground in tunnels, where it hunts earthworms and other invertebrates. . Around 2.5 million people call the Sahara Desert home. The Sahara sits atop the African Shield, which is composed of heavily folded and denuded Precambrian rocks. A unique animal, the Saharan Silver Ant (Cataglyphis bombycina), remains active for only 10 minutes a day. Sadly, changes in the environment have caused the horned viper to enter the endangered species list. The deathstalker isnt all bad news; its venom can be used to locate tumors in the human body. Prior to then both species had been known as the desert tortoise. Links to further information are provided for many of the animals. This can occur in semi-arid regions beside deserts, such as the Sahel to the south of the Sahara desert. The greater roadrunner can run at speeds of up to 26 mph (41.8 km/h) faster than any other non-flightless bird (even record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt can only reach this speed for a few seconds in a race). One of the best known species of tarantula hawk wasp is Pepsis grossa. The largest desert on Earth! It is most often seen during periods of rainfall, when it emerges from its hiding place. 4. Deserts are home to some of the most interesting animals in the world. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. A to Z list of desert animals with pictures and facts about each species. Wildlife in the Libyan Sahara desert, animals, insects and plants of the Libyan Sahara, fauna and flora of the African Sahara; singing and musical sand dunes; snakebite and scorpion sting kits, . They are well adapted to survive the extremes of the desert habitat in which they live. Source: worldatlas.com. Animals. As its name suggests, the Mojave Desert tortoise is found in North Americas Mojave Desert. The timing is crucial: it has to be hot enough so that ant-eating lizards are forced to seek shelter. The Sahara desert is a hot place all year, but July and August are by far the hottest months. Both the Turkmenian kulan and Persian onager are rated Endangered. Many of the organisms that can survive have been able to do so with adaptations for arid environments: for example, many herbaceous plants found in the Sahara are ephemerals, meaning that almost all of their life cyclefrom germination to seed dispersaloccurs in the two- to three-week period after a heavy rain. One of the most prominent animals of the desert is the camel, particularly the dromedary camel. Today there are around 850 Arabian oryxes living in the wild. Its lifespan ranges from 8 to 30 years of age and that time is spent solitary. These arachnids feature specialized adaptations that . Best Answer. Over much of the Sahara, these formations were covered by Mesozoic depositsincluding the limestones of Algeria, southern Tunisia, and northern Libya, and the Nubian sandstones of the Libyan Desertand many of the important regional aquifers are identified with them. Today it is a domestic animal, most often seen in desert regions. Blood vessels close to the skin in the ears dissipate body heat into the air. It is smaller than a domestic cat, and has pale, sandy-colored hair, which is often marked with darker spots or stripes. Also known as African hunting dogs, African wild dogs are equipped with unique patterns on their coat, consisting of black, brown, yellow and white colors. What is the modern economy of the Saharan Desert like. They look ephemeral and fragile, but they are incredibly dangerous, capable of causing respiratory failure and death. It is one of the most commonly encountered lizards in the deserts in this region. Sentries survey the landscape for threats, and will alert the group using different alarm calls depending on the threat. The sidewinder is also known as the horned rattlesnake due to the horn-like scales that project out from above its eyes. The dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), a small gazelle species, inhabits the Sahara Desert and surrounding grasslands. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 after hundreds of amazing fossils were discovered in the area. There are also indigenous names for particular areassuch as the Tanezrouft region of southwestern Algeria and the Tnr region of central Nigerwhich are often of Berber origin. Other noteworthy formations include the Ennedi Plateau of Chad, the Ar Massif of Niger, the Iforas Massif of Mali, and the outcroppings of the Mauritanian Adrar region. Outbreaks of infectious diseases, persecution by humans, and habitat destruction are responsible for the decline in African wild dog populations. . The unique sideways movement of the sidewinder helps it to traverse the sands quickly and effectively. The red-spotted toad spends much of its time sheltering from the sun in rocky crevices near streams. The desert hosts the highly feared deathstalker scorpion, the extremely venomous sand viper, the elegant and fierce cheetah and other equally magnificent species. 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