Cactuses have many adaptions to survive in dry, hot regions. Such as:
- Being greyish/silver in colour: To reflect heat of the sun and reduce water loss
- A swollen stem: To store water
- Rolled up leaves (only in certain cacti) to reduce surface area that is exposed to the sun, therefore preventing water loss
- Covered in thorns: Helps protect the plant from animals trying to eat it
Camels:
They have rows of long eyelashes to protect their eyes from the sun and to prevent the sand blowing into their eyes. They have also adapted so that they can survive without food and water for long periods of time by storing fat in their humps. They also have thick leathery patches on their knees to protect it from getting burn when it kneels on the hot desert sand. Another very important adaption is the fact that it has Broad, flat, leathery pads at the bottom of their hooves so that the pads spread out when the camel places its feet on the ground thus creating a "snowshoe effect" and preventing the camel from sinking into the sand.
Fennec Fox:
1. Their large ears, which are usually 6 inches long (15 centimetres), help dissipate excess body heat on hot days in the desert.
2. The fennec fox seems to be the only carnivore living in the Sahara Desert able to survive without free water. Their kidneys are adapted to restrict water loss, their extensive burrowing may cause the formation of dew, which can then be consumed, and they will receive moisture from the food that they eat.
3. Their burrowing and nocturnal lifestyle helps restrict water loss.
4. Their thick fur helps insulate them from the cold desert nights.
5. Their sandy fur helps to reflect heat, and also provides excellent camouflage.
6. Fennec foxes also have thick fur on the soles of their feet, which insulate against the hot sand of the desert. This extra fur on the soles of their feet also affords them excellent traction in the loose sand.
Joshua tree:
This tree has a top-heavy branch system, but also has what has been described as a deep and extensive root system, with roots possibly reaching up to 11 m (36 ft) away. This is an example of an adaption as they have long roots to reach water deep in the ground and they are well rooted so a storm won’t knock the tree over.
They store water in the leaves so their leaves are narrow and they are coated with a waxy substance. They use CAM photosynthetic pathway which allows the stomata to be closed during the day so it is very efficient on how it uses water as it significantly reduces water loss.
A Joshua tree also has needle like leaves to protect them from any animals.
Thorny Devil:
1.It has bristles all over the lizard’s body to protect itself against predators.
2.They also have tiny little grooves all over their body so the water they do get, mainly from the rain gets directed to the mouth by the grooves so it get’s the maximum amount of water possible.
3.It also has a small hump above it’s heat to store water and fat reserves so it can go without food and water for longer.
4.The fourth and final adaptation is a defence mechanism. When a predator actually wants to try and consume the spiky lizard they will have a tough time finding its head. You see the thorny devil hides its real head and exposes a fake, spike-filled head which is located on their back. To give the predator a surprise to make it flee.
A great basin sagebrush tap roots up to 25m long so they can get as much water as they can, as their roots can reach deep in to the ground to get to that water found deep in the ground .
It also has needle like leaves to protect itself from any predator or animal danger. As the spiky leaves act as a deterrent.
The spiky leaves not only scares animal away it helps to significantly reduce water loss which means it’s easier for the plant to survive.
