All kinds of animals live in deserts. The camel is one of the best desert survivors. Camels store fat in their hump, have long legs to keep as far away from the heat of the sand during the day and long hair to keep warm in the cold night. But there is much more to desert life than camels, snakes and scorpions. Deserts also have foxes, tarantulas, antelopes, boars, and in some places, even lions and elephants! Many small animals live in deserts and they provides food for birds like hawks, falcons, owl, buzzards and eagles.

Some desert animals never drink water. They get their moisture from seeds and plants. Others are nocturnal, sleeping during the heat of the day and only coming out at night to eat and hunt. Every desert animal has special adaptations to survive in the dry climate. Tortoises such as this desert tortoise get all their moisture from plant food. The desert tortoise stores water in its enlarged bladder. Tortoises in the desert bask in the sun in the early morning and evening when it is cool and then retire to the shade or burrows.