![]() Pupfish have evolved to thrive in water that flows through arid regions. Loiselle -, CC BY-SA 3.0, )įish in the desert? Desert pupfish ( Cyprinodon macularis) are small, silvery fish that can survive remarkably well in parched conditions. They're also known as Major Mitchell’s cockatoos (after the early English explorer who wrote about them for a global audience), as well as Leadbeater’s cockatoos, desert cockatoos, cocklerinas, chockalotts and - adorably - wee jugglers. These iconic Australian birds have a variety of names and nicknames, according to FNPW. They mate for life, according to the Australian Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife (FNPW), and they can be found prancing on tree branches, bobbing their heads up and down to attract mates. These pretty birds live off seeds and insects. Identifiable by its showy orange-and-yellow crest and its blush-shaded body, the pink cockatoo is divided into two subspecies: one found in western-central Australia and other in the east, according to the Australian Museum. ![]() One of the continent's most beloved bird species is the pink cockatoo ( Lophochroa leadbeateri), which ekes out an existence in the semi-arid and arid Australian Outback. (Image credit: Kathryn Diehm/Getty Images)Ĭolorful birds are often found in lush, tropical rainforests and are scarce in arid regions - except if that region happens to be in Australia’s interior. For most people, the sting is similar to a bee's sting. Fortunately for humans, desert hairy scorpions would rather flee than sting, and their venom is relatively weak. In fact, if the male does not flee quickly after depositing his sperm, he might find himself becoming his mate's next meal.įemales gestate their young for six to 12 months, live-birthing up to 35 babies that piggyback on their mother's carapace until they're large enough to hunt on their own. When looking to mate, male and female hairy desert scorpions lock pincers in a mating dance that looks more like a wrestling match. Hairy desert scorpions are found in North America's Sonoran and Mojave deserts, as well as in Nevada and Utah. No one knows exactly why scorpions fluoresce, but the best way to find these shy nocturnal predators is to take a UV light into the desert on a summer night, when they tend to be most active. Though they are a drab olive-green color, hairy desert scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light. These sorpions can measure between 4 and 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 cm) long, according to Utah's Hogle Zoo, making them North America's largest scorpions. It's a waste not, want not environment in the desert, so screaming hairy armadillos are opportunistic eaters - they also consume insects and small animals such as lizards and rodents.Īmong the many scorpion species that call deserts home, the hairy desert scorpion ( Hadrurus arizonensis) is a standout. Their kidneys are highly efficient, and they get most of the water they need from the plants they eat. They live in the Monte desert of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, preferring spots with loose, sandy soil where they can dig burrows, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Screaming hairy armadillos are small, weighing only 1.9 pounds (0.86 kilograms). Research published in 2019 suggests that these screams are designed to startle predators, or to attract other predators to the scene, perhaps distracting an attacker and enabling the armadillo to get away. These armadillos really do scream when threatened, they make a terrible cry that sounds similar to the wails of a newborn human baby. Perhaps less cute than fennec foxes - but no less well-adapted to their desert environment - are screaming hairy armadillos ( Chaetophractus vellerosus). (Image credit: _Philippe Clément/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Fennec foxes also dig elaborate burrows to escape the sun in the hottest part of the day. When air temperatures rise, the foxes can pant up to 690 times per minute to cool down. ![]() Their pale fur camouflages them against the sand it also grows on the bottoms of their feet to give them traction while running in the sand and protects their feet from the hot desert surface. When the foxes catch the sound of rodents, insects or other small animals they predate, they use all four paws to dig out their quarry in a shower of sand, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.įennec foxes are well-adapted for life in African and Arabian deserts. These ears help the foxes shed heat and listen for prey under the sand. These teeny canids are smaller than domestic cats, measuring 14 to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long, not including their tails, but they sport enormous ears that can grow to be 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) long. (Image credit: Tambako the Jaguar/Getty Images)ĭesert animals don't get much cuter than fennec foxes ( Vulpes zerda). ![]()
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