LOCATION The cool features of the desert are there are rocks,
sand, sand dunes, and rocky towers. Deserts are located in North
America, South America, Africa, Antarctica, Artic areas, Asia and
Australia.
Slide 4
CLIMATE The desert climate is usually hot although there are
deserts that can be cold. The high temperature in hot deserts in
the summer is 104 degrees. In the winter, cold deserts have
temperatures as low as -89 degrees.
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DESERT ANIMALS Desert animals get water from food, like cacti
and other plants. They also are able to handle high temperatures.
Some animals hide in shade although there is limited shade in the
desert. Their pale colors help camouflage them against the light
colors of the desert as well as keeping them cool. Some animals
come out at night (nocturnal) to feed and spend the days
underground or in the shade. They can survive without water for
long periods of time. Jackrabbits, lizard, coyote, elf owl, kit
fox.
Slide 6
JACKRABBITS BY: JOSH The jackrabbits live in the shade by their
self. They eat shrubs, plants, grass, and twigs. They get their
water from the plants they eat. The jackrabbits ears helps them
stay cool. Its legs help them jump from place to place. Its brown
fur helps them blend into the desert so the coyotes cant eat
them.
Slide 7
HORNED LIZARD BY: IAN The horned lizards shelter is
underground. The horned lizard eats animals, plants and insects.
The horned lizard gets water from the desert plants. The horned
lizards predators are hawks, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, wolves,
and coyotes. The horned lizard has eyes that can spray blood to get
away. Their color lets them blend into the sand and not be seen.
They are nocturnal.
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GILA MONTER The Gila Monster lives in the Southwest. It likes
to eat small animals. It gets water from plants. The Gila Monster
has a poisonous bite. It has strong jaws to bite down on its prey.
It eats kangaroo rats. It can go months without eating. It stores
fat in its tail so it can live for a long time without food. It
hides under rocks for shelter.
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DESERT PLANTS Some desert trees have really long roots that
travel underground until it reaches water. Some plants get as much
water as it can when it rains. They also can have roots that go
sideways so it can soak up as much water as it can from just
beneath the surface of the ground. Many plants can soak up and
store the water in its stem. The stems have waxy coverings to keep
the water inside.
Slide 10
CACTUS BY: IAN Cacti have long roots on the surface of the
ground to get as much water as it can when it rains. Cacti can hold
lots of water. Cacti can grow to 60 feet high. Scientists think
that cacti may have grown for millions of years.
Slide 11
JOSHUA TREE BY: JOSH It can grow as high as 40 feet (12 meters)
with branches are 20 feet (6 meters) long. It has waxy spiny leaves
to protect it from the sun. The spiny leaves protect it from
animals. Some animals actually use the trees spiny leaves to kill
their prey. When water hits its leaves they die but dont fall off.
The trunk keeps it from dying from the hot sun.
Slide 12
AGAVE PLANT The leaves of the agave plant help water go down to
its roots. This helps them store water. The agave plant has a very
waxy coating. Some of the leaves get water from fog and dew.