Desert animals adaptations

Question 1

Fennec fox (3)

Answer 1

• Nocturnal: to save energy
• In burrow during the day: to escape the heat
• Big ears: providing a high surface area to lose heat.

Question 2

Lizards and snakes (2)

Answer 2

• Camaflouge: to avoid predators
• Able to tolerate high body temperatures

Question 3

Camels (3)

Answer 3

• Storage for large amounts of fat in their humps: so they can break it down into water
• Triple eyelids, long lashes, close their nose: for sandstorms
  -Large flat feet: high surface area to spread their weight

Question 4

Cactus Mice (2)

Answer 4

1. Get all water from eating, minimise amount lost by sweat or urine.
2. Be in burrows all day: avoid dehydration

Question 5

Cacti (4)

Answer 5

1. Wide shallow root systems: spread out and collect as much water as possible when it does rain
2. Large fleshy stems: for stroing water
3. Waxy surfaces: prevent transpiration
4. Spines / toxins: prevent animals eating them

Question 6

Desert poppies (1)

Answer 6

1. Have seeds that only germinate when it rains: so they only grow when they have enough water to survive

Question 7

Agave (3)

Answer 7

1. Thick waxy leaves: store water
   2.Spines: animals don’t eat them
2. Waxy surfaces: prevent transpiraton