Desert
Desert
Deserts are arid regions where rainfall is low (less than 25 cm [10 inches] a year), and water evaporation is high. The North American desert is of two parts,the hot deserts of the southwest (Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan) and the cool, high desert in the rain shadow of the High Sierras and the Cascade mountains. Desert plants, such as thorny shrubs and cacti, have reduced foliage, drought-resistant seeds, and other adaptations for conserving water. Many large desert animals have developed remarkable anatomical and physiological adaptations for keeping cool and conserving water. Most smaller animals avoid the most severe conditions by living in burrows or developing nocturnal habits. Mammals found there include mule deer, peccary, cottontail, jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, and ground squirrel. Typical birds are roadrunner, cactus wren, turkey vulture, and burrowing owl. Reptiles are numerous, and a few species of toads are common. Arthropods include a great variety of insects and arachnids.
Deserts are arid regions where rainfall is low (less than 25 cm [10 inches] a year), and water evaporation is high. The North American desert is of two parts,the hot deserts of the southwest (Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan) and the cool, high desert in the rain shadow of the High Sierras and the Cascade mountains. Desert plants, such as thorny shrubs and cacti, have reduced foliage, drought-resistant seeds, and other adaptations for conserving water. Many large desert animals have developed remarkable anatomical and physiological adaptations for keeping cool and conserving water. Most smaller animals avoid the most severe conditions by living in burrows or developing nocturnal habits. Mammals found there include mule deer, peccary, cottontail, jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, and ground squirrel. Typical birds are roadrunner, cactus wren, turkey vulture, and burrowing owl. Reptiles are numerous, and a few species of toads are common. Arthropods include a great variety of insects and arachnids.
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