Arabian
Sahara

Arabian Horse
The Arabian horse is a very important desert animal. This is a domesticated animal. That means that it has been tamed and is raised for humans to use.

Arabian horses are strong animals that can travel far and fast. It is the oldest breed of horse.

As strong and helpful as they are, they are not able to survive alone in the desert. Arabian horses must be cared for by their human owners.

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Gobi

Bactrain Camel (BAK tree uhn)
The Bactrain camel has a heavy, warm fur coat to keep it warm during the cold winter months. These two-humped camels call Asia and the Gobi Desert home.

The humps of the Bactrain camel are sort of like its emergency grocery store. They store fat. When food is scarce, the camel will survive by using this fat. As the camel uses the fat, the humps shrink. When food is found, the humps return to their normal size.

The people of Asia use the Bactrain camel for many things. They are put to work turning water wheels and hauling things. The camels' fur is used to make clothing and blankets.

Although these camels are very useful, they are not always the nicest of creatures. They can be very stubborn ... ignoring directions, spitting, and biting! However, they are good pack animals and very important to the people who live in and nearby the desert.

Once, there were many Bactrain camels roaming Asia and the Gobi Desert. Today, most of these creatures are domesticated (raised for humans to use).

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Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Black-collared Lizard
These wary lizards can be found in the deserts of North American. They are diurnal animals (active during the day) and love to sun themselves on boulders in rocky desert areas.

Black-collared lizards get their name from the black and white collar at their neck. They have sharp teeth for protection in case of attack by a predator. However, they would rather simply run away!

These desert reptiles are carnivorous. They spend their days looking for insects, other lizards, small snakes, and mice to eat.

In the midsummer, these lizards lay between 3 and 8 eggs. New black-collared lizards will hatch and begin hunting in the desert (reptiles do not care for their young after birth). A full grown black-collared lizard grows to be between 6 and 13 inches long (about 15 to 33 cm).

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Chihuahuan
Mojave
Sonoran

Cactus Wren
These desert birds build their nests in the stems of cholla cacti. This keeps their eggs and young safe from predators. Not only do they nest in the sharp spines of desert cactus, their nests are built with the "door" at the bottom. This keeps the baby wren safe and protected from the heat and harsh sunlight of the day.

The cactus wren is found in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of North America. Its bill is like a pair of tweezers. With it, these birds can catch insects and find food. They eat insects, fruits, and seeds.

Unlike some other desert birds who are out and about early in the day, the Cactus wren is a late sleeper!

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Mojave
Sonoran

Chuckwalla
This 10 to 18 inch desert lizard weighs about 3 to 4 pounds. They live in open, rocky areas of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts.

This herbivore (plant eater) is diurnal. That means it is active during the day. It searches for food early in the day before it gets too hot! They like to eat flowers, prickly pear cactus, and creosote bushes. When the temperature gets too hot, they find a shady spot until it is cool enough to search again.

Chuckwallas have scales to protect them from the hot sun. When they are attacked or threatened, they hide between rocks and puff themselves up by filling their lungs with air. They are not poisonous.

Chuckwallas are reptiles related to Iguanas.

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Chihuahuan
Sonoran

Coati (koh AH tee)
These desert mammals are related to raccoons. They have small ears, flat foreheads, and long, pointed snouts. They also have an excellent sense of smell.

A Coati will eat just about anything that it can find. It spends its day looking for food. Often, it will stop and dig into the sand looking for food. However, the Coati is just as comfortable in a tree!

The fur of a desert Coati is sandy-brown and its tail is ringed. A male Coati usually lives alone, but females travel in groups (troops) of 6-25.

Some species of Coati live in the rainforests of South America!

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Chihuahuan
Mojave
Sonoran

Common Kingsnake
Kingsnakes love hugs! These ringed snakes use strong muscles to squeeze their prey to death. We call them constrictors.

Kingsnakes get their name from one of their unique traits. They attack and eat other snakes. Because they are immune (unharmed) by the venom of poisonous snakes, they can be thought of as "king" of the snakes!

During the winter months, these reptiles are diurnal and are most active early in the morning and at dusk. However, during the hot summer months, kingsnakes become nocturnal (active at night) to keep their cool!

Kingsnakes are harmless to humans. Their meals include: snakes, mice, reptile eggs, birds, and lizards.

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Chihuahuan
Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Cottontail Rabbit and Black-tailed Jackrabbit
While these two creatures may look similar, they have many differences!

The desert cottontail (top picture) is the smaller of the two. It grows to be between 12 and 15 inches long (about 30 to 38 cm). It has gray fur and large ears and is a herbivore (plant eater).

The cottontail is active at dawn and dusk when the temperatures are cool. It is a rabbit. That means that young cottontails are born without hair. They are also helpless when they are first born.

The Black-tailed jackrabbit (bottom picture) is also a herbivore that is active at dawn and dusk. It grows to be between 18 and 25 inches long (46 to 64 cm).

The jackrabbit is gray-brown and has very long ears. This creature also has very large hind feet. Unlike the cottontail, the jackrabbit is a hare. Hares are born with fur and can hop around right away!

Both the cottontail and the jackrabbit give birth to many litters each year. This is necessary because many desert animals prey on these two creatures!

Take a peek at a jackrabbit and cottontail feeding. You will also see some Gambel's Quail!

Click HERE to download to your desktop or HERE to view from our server!

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Chihuahuan
Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Coyote
These wild dogs are common creatures in the deserts of North America. They are gray or reddish gray and weigh between 25 and 30 pounds.

Coyotes are mostly carnivores. However, in some desert areas, like the Sonoran Desert, coyotes will eat just about anything ... especially when food is scarce. They have been known to capture and eat domestic animals, scavenge in trash cans, and devour berries and fruit. Because of this fact, many ranchers (and homeowners) fear coyotes.

These hunters are usually nocturnal, however, in some areas they are active during the day as well. On early desert mornings or evenings, you are likely to hear yips, barks, and howls of the coyotes in the area!

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Chihuahuan
Great Basin
Mojave
Sonoran

Deer Mouse
These omnivorous rodents are common in the desert. They adapt well to many environments so they are found in many parts of the world.

The deer mouse is usually active at night. This makes it a nocturnal animal. It burrows in tunnels, hollow logs, or other protected areas to stay cool in the heat of the day. Once night falls, it searches for seeds and small insects.

The ears of this tiny desert animal are very large when you compare them to the size of its body.

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Chihuahuan
Mojave
Sonoran

Desert Tarantula
This hairy arachnid spends much of its life in underground burrows. Desert tarantulas hunt at night in the summer months, but may be seen during the day in cooler seasons. They prey on insects, lizards, and other small animals.

Desert tarantulas have a venomous sting. However, it is deadly only to the small animals they hunt. If you were stung by this tarantula, it would hurt, but it probably wouldn't dangerous.

Besides their sting, desert tarantulas have the ability to scatter body hairs from their back legs. These hairs are supposed to irritate the attacker and are meant to drive it away.

Desert tarantellas can live for a long time. Some females live for 20 years or more.

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Chihuahuan
Sonoran

Diamondback Rattlesnake
The diamondback rattlesnake has a deadly bite. When threatened, it coils its long body and lifts its head. Sometimes, it also gives a warning ... a stern buzzing of its rattle.

This carnivorous reptile is active late in the day and at night to stay out of the hot, hot sun. It hunts mice and other small rodents and birds.

The diamondback is the largest of the western rattlesnakes. It gets its name from the diamond pattern of its scales.

Unlike some reptiles, diamondback young are born live. Newborn rattlesnakes can take care of themselves and are born ready to bite!

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Australian

Dingo (DIHNG goh)
These wild dogs live in the deserts of Australia. They have been living there for thousands of years.

These carnivores (meat eaters) hunt mostly at night. They hunt for small animals like wallabies, rabbits, and wild pigs. However, they will also eat cattle and sheep if there is not enough food to be found.

Dingoes look a lot like domestic dogs. In fact, some scientists classify them as a wild domestic dog. Others classify them as a separate species.

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Arabian
Sahara
Thar

Dromedary Camel (DROM uh dehr ee)
Arabian, or dromedary, camels call many desert areas home. These mostly domesticated animals work and live in the deserts in North Africa, Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. A few wild dromedaries are said to live in the deserts of Australia.

Dromedary camels have adapted to desert life in many ways. Long eyelashes and special glands protect its eyes from the sand. Its ears are covered, inside and out, with hair. This also protects the camel from the harsh conditions. And, are you ready for this, the dromedary camel can even close its nostrils to keep sand from getting in!

The feet of a dromedary are also specialized for its home. Dromedaries that live and work in the sand have foot pads that keep them from sinking into the sand as they walk. This is important because they are often carrying very heavy loads!

Dromedary camels can go a long time without water. They get some of the water they need through their food. They also have a way to keep the water they drink inside ... they don't sweat very much! Rather than sweating, they are able to handle rising body temperatures until they can cool down after sundown. This adaptation allows a dromedary to go days or months without a drink of water!

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