Desert is not a close environment to the environment we live. Water is also scarce in these desert environments, with extreme heat during the day and extreme cold at night. Creatures that call deserts their home have the ability to adapt to these harsh environmental conditions. Most of these creatures never need to drink water, and some have skin and scales to store water. So here are 9 strange creatures found in deserts around the world.

FENNEC FOX

No other animals in the desert are cuter than this fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) and these teeny foxes are smaller than domestic cats. The smallest of canids have huge ears that can grow 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm). These ears help them dissipate heat and listen for prey under the sand. Perhaps their most notable characteristic is their ears. These foxes are about 14 inches to 16 inches (35.6 to 40.6 centimeters) long and carry an additional 7 to 12 inches (18 to 30 centimeters) tail. Their average weight is about 2,3 pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kilograms).

Living in the African and Arabian deserts, these foxes are well adapted to desert life. According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, Fennec foxes typically give birth to between 2 and 5 litter per year and these foxes may live up to 11 years in human care.

SCREAMING HAIRY ARMADILLO

Although often less cute than fennec foxes, hairy armadillos (Chaetophractus vellerosus) are also well adapted to the desert environment. When they are threatened, They will emit a loud squealing noise. They scream like a newborn human baby. Research published in 2019 suggests that they make these calls to scare away predators, to attract different predators, or perhaps to distract an attacker.

They are a small species and weigh about only 1.9 pounds (0.86 kilograms) and these armadillos are about 8.7 and 15.7 inches (22 to 40 centimeters), long and carry an additional 3.5 to 6.9 inches (9 to 17.5 centimeters) tail.

According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, they live in the Monte Desert of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. Preferring to live in places with loose sandy soils, they rarely need water to drink. They get most of the water they need from the plants they eat. In addition, screaming hairy armadillos will eat insects and small vertebrates such as frogs, toads, lizards, birds and rodents. Armadillos typically give birth to between 1 and 3 litter per year and these can live up to 8 or 9 years in human care.

HAIRY DESERT SCORPION

Among the species of scorpion commonly found in desert environments, the hairy desert scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) stand out. They are found in suburban environments in California and Arizona and often live in abandoned burrows, small caves, hollows, and grasslands. They prey on beetles and other invertebrates.

According to Utah’s Hogle Zoo, These scorpions can measure between 4 and 7 inches (10.2 to 17.8 cm) long, they are the largest species of scorpion in North America. They are named for the small erect hairs located on their tail. Generally tan to olive-green in color, these scorpions are mostly identical in appearance to males and females.

They are more sedentary in the winter and more active in the summer. They are nocturnal animals and use rocks or burrows to protect themselves from the heat during the day. They are solitary active predators. The venom of desert hairy scorpions is fairly week compared to most scorpions. For most people, the sting is similar to a bee’s sting.

HARRIS’S HAWK

This Harris’s hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) can be called a special falcon in the world of falcons. They have attractive red wings and sometimes hunt in packs. These hawks eat small desert mammals such as birds, lizards, kangaroo rats and ground squirrels.

According to the conservation nonprofit Audubon, They are very cooperative animals. When a large prey is found, it is shared with other falcons and these birds often work in groups to raise their young. Adults may raise 2-3 broods per season, and young from earlier nesting may help feed the young in later broods.

DESERT IRONCLAD BEETLE

This beetle can be called a tank of insects. They’re called Ironclad beetles because they have a phenomenally strong exoskeleton. So you can’t kill them by stepping on them. Powder-blue color, comes as a waxy coating that helps the beetle retain moisture in the dry Sonoran desert.

They are also known as “death-feigning beetles” because of their defensive behavior in the face of threats. Like other desert animals, they rarely need to drink water. In addition, they live by eating plants and decaying organic matter.

SAND CAT

The Sand Cat (Felis margarita) is a true desert dweller and are the only felid to occur exclusively in desert habitat. Sand cats occur across the Sahara Desert, from Morocco in the west to as far as Egypt and the Sudan in the east. In Asia, they have been recorded in Syria, Iran, east of the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan.

HB Length: 39-52 cm (15-20″)

Tail Length: 23-31 cm (9-12″)

Weight: 24-30 cm (10-12″)

Weight: 1.3-3.4 kg (3-7.5 lbs)

They’re secretive and difficult to track, according to the International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada. Sand cats are secretive hunters and live by eating snakes, lizards and desert rats. Their mating call sounds like a dog’s bark. Usually 1 to 8 kittens are born annually in a burrow or between rocks. They have lived to 18 years of age in captivity.

DESERT LONG-EARED BAT

Nicknamed the desert long-eared bat or “The hardest bat in the world”, they are found in North Africa and the Middle East. According to research from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, These bats hunt and eat scorpions and are not harmed by scorpion stings. The desert long-eared bats can each use different types of echolocation to find ground-dwelling prey such as scorpions and to hunt flying insects.

SIDEWINDER

Sidewinders are stealthy hunters who can crawl across loose sand and glide at speeds of up to 18mph (29 km/h). They can be found in deserts in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Sidewinders bury themselves in sand and only their eyes peeking upward. These snakes make very fast attacks and as soon as they see a victim, they move forward and snatch the trap. These snakes are venomous, capable of attacking the blood and nervous system of the victim.

DESERT PUPFISH

No list of weird desert animals would be complete without a nod to fish kind. So do you believe there are fish in the desert? Yes there is. They are called Desert PupFish (Cyprinodon macularis). Desert Pupfishes are small and robust fish. Usually less than three inches in length. They are silver colored fish and are capable of living remarkably well in dry environments. They thrive in flowing water in arid environments and can be found in California. According to Florida’s Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, They can live in water as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) and as hot as 108 degrees F (42.2 C).

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Desert pupfish typically lay 50-800 eggs during the breeding season. The lifespan is typically one year, but can be as long as three years. These fish are threatened with extinction, mainly due to the introduction of non-native species and loss of habitat.

We believe that you have learned many facts about desert animals that you did not know before. Also, you have seen what they are like. Thank you very much for getting knowledge from us…