CHAPTER FOUR
Animals
It’s hard to live in the desert, but deserts are homes for many different animals.
Insects, like ants, can live underground when it’s hot. They put their eggs underground, too. Insects are important because bigger animals need them for food.
Spiders and scorpions are arachnids. Many desert arachnids are poisonous. They use their poison to catch insects and other small animals.
Mammals are animals that drink milk from their mother when they are young. Many desert mammals can live for days with no water because they can get water from plants.
Desert jerboas make water in their body when they eat dry seeds and roots!
Reptiles, like snakes, lizards, and desert tortoises, have a thick skin. This helps their body to save water. Most reptiles get food and water from other animals, but desert tortoises eat plants.
Some deserts even have fish. Pupfish live in small rivers in the deserts in North America.
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