ABC’S OF PLANTS AND WILDLIFE IN THE

DESERTBy: Nathan Cipar

A is for ArachnidsArachnids are animals that have eight legs. There are thousands of arachnids living in the desert.

B is for BatsBats are flying mammals who live in caves that feed on insects. Bats often feed during the nighttime.

C is for ChaparralA chapparal is scrub vegetation that is present in Desert and Mediterranean climate, also called maquis.

D is for DeerDeer , believe it or not, can live in some desert climates where there is more water. Coues, White-tailed, and Mule deer are common types of deer that live in the desert.

E is for EgretAn Egret is a large migratory bird that lives in a number of different locations, including the desert. It’s main diet include fish and insects.

F is for FerretA ferret is a small animal that lives underground. Ferrets feed on other small mammals and insects.

G is for Gopher SnakesThe Gopher Snake can be found in all for deserts on the American continent. They range in color from yellow, black, green, and red.

H is for Horned LizardsHorned Lizards are a common reptile in the desert. They generally feed on insects and other small reptiles.

I is for InsectsThousands of insects live in the desert. These are one of the main foods for animals that live in the desert.

J is for Jack RabbitJack Rabbits are a common mammal found in the desert. They eat grasses and other plants that grow in the desert.

L is for LeechLeeches are often found in moist areas of the desert. The leech feeds on the blood of other animals.

M is for Mountain LionMountain lions, also known as Cougars, are large cats that live in the desert. They feed on small and large mammals.

P is for PupfishThe Desert Pupfish is a type of small fish that lives in pools of water in California, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Q is for QuokkaA Quokka is a small animal related to the Kangaroo that lives in the outback of Australia.

R is for RattlesnakeThe rattlesnake is a type venomous snake common in all deserts. There are many types of rattlesnakes.

S is for ScorpionsScorpions are a type of venomous arachnid. There are around 1,300 species of scorpions around the world.

T is for TarantulaThe tarantula is a type of large arachnid. This spider feeds on insects and small rodents. There are many species of tarantulas.

U is for Uromastyx lizardThis type of lizard is found in Africa and the Middle East. They eat small insects and plants.

V is for VultureVultures are a type of bird that feeds on dead animals. Vulture are found in both desert and non-desert climates.

W is for WoodratsWoodrats are a type of rodent that is common in desert climates. They are also called Pack Rats or Trade Rats because they collect various materials to make their nests.

X is for XerophyteA Xerophyte is a plant that has adapted to drought.

Y is for Yucca A Yucca is a type of plants that grows in the desert climate. The yucca produces flowers and fruits during certain times of the year.

Z is for Zebra-tailed lizardsZebra-tailed lizards live in the open desert with no vegetation or rocks. They can run very fast and burrow in the sand.