Arabian
Sahara

Fennec Fox
Weighing in at about 3 pounds and standing 8 inches tall (about 20 cm), the fennec fox is the smallest of the foxes.

Like some other desert animals, the fennec fox has ears that are very large compared to the rest of its body. These large ears help the fox lose heat and keep cool.

Fennecs are almost the color of sand. This coloring helps them stay camouflaged from predators. It also helps them stay cool in the hot sun.

Fennec foxes are nocturnal creatures. They stay in their burrows during the day and hunt for small desert animals at night.

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Chihuahuan
Mojave
Sonoran

Gambel's Quail
The Gambel's quail is between 10-11 1/2 inches (25-29 cm). They are marked with a teardrop shaped plume on the top of their head.

Gambel's build their nests in grassy areas under desert shrubs and are live in family groups. They eat seeds, leaves, and shoots of desert plants.

Click to hear the call of a Gambel's quail.
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Arabian
Sahara
Thar

Gazelle (guh ZEHL)
There are many types of gazelles living in the desert. One species is the dorcas gazelle. Dorcas gazelles stand only about 2 feet tall (61 cm). They are also endangered (as are most species of gazelle).

Gazelles are swift runners. They can outrun all but the fastest of animal predators! They make their home in areas where there is plenty of plant life to graze on. This plant life is not only their food, but it supplies them with water as well.

Gazelles are found in Northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, and India.

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Mojave
Sonoran

Gila Monster (HEE luh)
If you are looking for a slow moving, poisonous lizard then you have come to the right place! The gila monster is both of those things.

These mostly nocturnal (active at night) creatures can be found in the North American deserts. They are large creatures with an equally large tail. They are brightly colored to warn other animals that they are poisonous.

The gila monster's tail is very important. It stores fat and is much like the hump of a camel. When food is hard to find, the gila monster can live on the fat stores in its tail.

Gila monsters can be found under rocks and in the burrows of other animals. When they hunt, they search for small mammals, snakes, and other lizards. Their venom helps them overpower their prey. However, they don't inject the venom like a snake would. Instead, the venom oozes into the teeth marks left by the bite.

Although a gila monster bite would be very, very painful, it is not usually deadly to humans.

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Sonoran

Gila Woodpecker (HEE luh)
These cactus dwellers can be found in the Sonoran Desert in North America. They are between 8-10 inches long (20-25 cm) and are tan, black, and white. The male Gila woodpecker has a red cap.

Gila woodpeckers are noisy birds. Their sharp beaks help them carve their nests in the tough skin of saguaro cacti. They like to eat both cactus fruits and small insects. That makes them omnivorous creatures!

Click to hear the call of the Gila woodpecker.
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Click to download the call of the Gila woodpecker.

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Chihuahuan
Sonoran

Harris' Hawk
These fierce hunters can be found flying high over the deserts the southwestern United States. They can also be found in South America.

The Harris' Hawk is a carnivore. It spies small animals on the desert floor and swoops down to pick them up with sharp talons.

Mesquite shrubbery is a favorite of this bird of prey. However, when it comes to nesting, it needs to find a suitable tree. While the female hawk nests, the male has the job of finding food for both the female and the new hatchlings.

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Chihuahuan
Great Basin
Sonoran

Horned Lizard
There are 14 types of horned lizards living in the deserts of North America. All of them have spiny scales that help protect them from predators. In addition, this group of creatures blends in with their surroundings thanks to the coloring of their scales.

These animals have another defense against predators. If they are attacked, they can squirt a small bit of blood from their eyes.

Horned lizards are diurnal animals. Their favorite food is ants!

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Chihuahuan
Sonoran

Javelina
The javelina is also known as a collared peccary. Some people call them wild hogs because they look a bit like a pig.

These calm animals can be found in areas from the southwestern United States to South America. They live in herds ... both large and small.

Javelina like to eat succulents (cacti and other water retaining plants). They get much of the water they need from these plants. They particularly like prickly pear cactus ... spines and all.

To find a javelina, you would need to be in the desert early in the morning or late in the afternoon. They are diurnal, however, they stay in the shade during the heat of the day.

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Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Kangaroo Rat
This rodent loves sand dunes. Its large hind feet and long tail help it hop through the sand without sinking.

Like many desert rodents, the kangaroo rat is nocturnal. However, during a full moon, it usually stays safe in a burrow. Under a full moon, it would easily be seen by predators!

Kangaroo rats have adapted well to desert living. They get all the water they need from the seeds they gather. To make sure that every drop of water gets used, these rats seal off their burrows at night. This way they can trap the moisture from their breath (when they exhale). Their burrows are nice and humid and not a drop of water gets wasted!

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Chihuahuan
Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Kit Fox
The kit fox is a small nocturnal animal found in the deserts of North America. At 15 to 20 inches (80 to 113 cm), they are not quite as small as a fennec fox.

Kits are burrowing animals. They will either dig their own or enlarge a den from a smaller rodent. When it is time to leave their burrow for hunting, they go on the prowl for rodents and birds.

Kit foxes have yellow-gray fur that helps protect them. This coloring helps them camouflage with the desert land around them.

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