Cold Desert Animals Adaptations

Water is used up in the coolingprocess and can quickly dehydrate even the most water retentive animal so most desert animals have adapted their.

Cold desert animals adaptations. Common adaptations include modified exoskeleton camouflaging and burrowing. Desert animal adaptations include. Most of the plants in cold deserts are low shrubs a short bushlike plant.

After staying in the desert for winter the deer travel back for summer. They have developed special adaptations to withstand the cold temperatures like the presence of very thick fur and the inability to sweat. Other common adaptations seen in desert animals include big ears light-colored coats humps to store fat and adaptations that help conserve water.

Small mammals such as kangaroo rats kangaroo mice pocket mice grasshopper mice antelope ground squirrels badger kit fox and coyote as well as several lizards all dig burrows to wait out the cold weather. Most cold desert shrubs are deciduous but some are partially deciduous meaning they lose part. The two main adaptations that desert animals must make are how to deal with lack of water and how to deal with extremes in temperature.

Thick layers of fat and fur - for insulation against the cold. Desert Reptiles Like other reptiles snakes are cold-blooded. Large ears for dissipating body heat.

Anatomical Adaptations Baleen plates in the mouth instead of teeth made of keratin the same tough protein that makes hair and nails. A light-colored coat to reflect heat. They will learn how different animals are adapted to live in hot and cold deserts.

A white appearance - as camouflage from prey on the snow and ice. Since the temperatures below the surface are much cooler than above it many of the small to medium-sized animals living in the desert dig burrows to spend the hot daytime hours only coming out during the night. Thorns and thin spiky or glossy leaves to reduce water loss.