Desert habitats
Desert Where an animal or plant lives. are dry, and often sandy. They are hot during the day and cold at night. Some plants and animals are able to live there.
Watch: What lives in a desert habitat?
Discover what animals and plants are found in a desert habitat.
We are here.
But have you ever wondered what plants and animals live in a desert and how they survive there?
This is the Sahara. The largest desert on Earth!
Wow! It looks like it hardly ever rains here.
Incredibly, there are still plants growing here.
Like this acacia tree. It has long thorns that hold water. Plus very deep roots in the ground that gets the water it needs to survive.
And animals too! A camel. What's with the hump? It stores fat in that hump to use as food and can survive for up to seven months without drinking water! Ooh, it must get so thirsty!
Look at that gecko. They don't blink so have to lick their eyes to keep them clean.
And that's a scorpion. It can survive for twelve months without any food. It must be starving! Amazing!
So, desert habitats are dry and have very little water.
Ooh I'm thirsty, I need a drink!
Activities
Have a go at the activities below to see what you have learnt about desert habitats.
Activity 1: Finding the desert animals
Activity 2: Desert habitats quiz
Activity 3: Draw and describe
Imagine that you have discovered a new animal. It is by a desert pond called an oasis. Draw a picture and label the features that help it survive.
- How big is it?
- Does it store fat like a camel?
- Does it lick its eyes like a gecko?
- Does it have a poisonous sting like a scorpion?
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