Desert Ecosystems

Deserts are very dry places that get less than 10 inches of rain each year. Even though they seem empty, deserts are full of life. Plants and animals that live here have special tricks for finding and saving water. Deserts cover about one-third of the land on Earth.

Surviving the Heat

Desert plants and animals are amazing at saving water. Cacti store water inside their thick stems. Many desert animals are active only at night when it is cooler. The fennec fox has big ears that help it stay cool. Some desert frogs can sleep underground for months, waiting for rain.

Hot and Cold Deserts

Not all deserts are hot! Antarctica is actually the world's largest desert because it gets so little moisture. The Sahara in Africa is the largest hot desert. The Gobi Desert in Asia gets very cold in winter. No matter the temperature, all deserts share one thing: very little rainfall.

Fun Facts

• The Sahara Desert is almost as big as the entire United States!
• Some desert beetles collect water from morning fog on their backs.
• A cactus called the saguaro can live for more than 200 years.

Did You Know?

Antarctica is considered a desert because it gets less than 2 inches of precipitation each year!