Cold Desert Animals Adaptations

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.

Cold desert animals adaptations. Have light coloured fur to reflect sunlight and keep their bodies cools. Cold deserts also called temperate deserts are located in the temperate latitudes of earth. Just like animals plants need to adapt to the dryness cold temperatures and saltiness of the soils of cold deserts.

Have large bat-like ears radiate body heat and help keep them cool. Have thick fur on feet protecting them from the hot ground. Spikes protect cacti from animals.

Have long thick hair that insulates them during cold nights and protects them from the hot sun during the day. Large ears for dissipating body heat. Cold-blooded animals entirely lack sweat glands as they rely on the external environment to regulate body temperature.

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. Thorns and thin spiky or glossy leaves to reduce water loss. Adaptations help desert animals to acquire and retain water and to regulate body temperatures which helps them to survive in the harsh conditions of the desert.

One of the biggest water retention adaptations desert animals have is simply to avoid the sun and extreme heat. God gave rattlesnakes poison to help protect them from predators and to help them catch their food. Anatomical Adaptations Baleen plates in the mouth instead of teeth made of keratin the same tough protein that makes hair and nails.

After staying in the desert for winter the deer travel back for summer. Large fleshy stems to store water. Desert animal adaptations include.