Desert+Block+1

__Amazing desert__



__Desert Ecosystems__

Most hot and dry deserts don't have many plants. They do have some low down plants though, the only animals they have that can survive have the ability to burrow underground.

__Facts about the desert__

Clouds are scarce in deserts. Without clouds there can't be rain, snow or any other precipitation. Clouds also shade the land so without them the desert gets mighty hot.

-Average temperature is about 73 degrees

-The altitude varies widely and they are not near the poles

-The annual rain fall can be less 1.5 cm., most in America get 28 cm. a year

-The desert has little humidity

__Plants of the desert__



The Saguaro Cactus - The plant can get up to 40 f tall, and holds several tons of water inside its soft tissue. It has a thick waxy layer that protects it from the sun. The Ocotillo - the stems are covered with spines that can be 1.5 inches long. It can perform __ ﻿ __ photosynthesis during dry spells. The Soaptree Yucca - It can grow from 10 to 18 ft tall with palm tree like leaves, and the roots have a soapy substance.It also has a 1 1/2 to 3 inch long light brown capsules that splits into 3 parts revealing many small black seeds. The Crimson Hedgehog Cactus - It has clusters of spines 2 to 3 inches long. The Jumping Cholla - If you touch it you will be painfully stuck by something that seemed to jump off of the plant. __Animals of the desert__

The Kangaroo rat- ﻿ It has powrful hind legs and feet.There incredible speed makes them hard to catch they can cover almost 1200 feet of land in one minute.

Road runners- They extract their water from lizards, insects , small snakes , and any other small animals.

Tortises-They get their water from cacti and other plants.

The Gila Monster-The Egyptian spiny tailed lizard stores fat in their large tails when food is unnattainable they live off of this fat and the moisture it provides.

Desert Foxes-Like the bat eared and fenec fox of Africa, they also burrow into the ground. These burows have several chambers that are lined with vegetation. A whole fox family can live in these chambers.