What Animals Live in the Hot Desert?

Desert animals have adapted physically and behaviorally to desert conditions. These adaptations protect them from extreme heat and predators and allow them to subsist with little water. Animals exist in the desert by staying cool, storing water and using camouflage.

  1. Gila Monster

    • The Gila monster is a venomous lizard indigenous to the Southwestern United States. It bears the desert heat by burrowing underground and hunting at night when temperatures are cooler.

    Cactus Wren

    • The cactus wren is a desert bird that needs little water and has a diet of insects and berries. The cactus wren lives amid thorny desert vegetation such as the yucca, using the prickly cactus as protection from predators.

    Camels

    • Camels live in the deserts of the Mideast and North Africa, surviving on desert plants, twigs and leaves. Camels can drink an abundance of water at a time, which keeps them hydrated for long durations.

    Meerkats

    • Meerkats are carnivorous mammals that hunt, burrow and travel in groups for protection. Meerkats live in the deserts of southern Africa, preying on insects, lizards, and rodents.

    Hyenas

    • Hyenas are meat-eating scavengers of Africa's desert regions, feeding on large prey such as zebras and gazelles. Known for their high-pitched calls, these mammals are intelligent predators capable of fully digesting all parts of their prey.