THE EVERYTHING® KIDS' NATURE BOOK by Kathiann M. Kowalski

Author:Kathiann M. Kowalski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: epub, ebook
Publisher: Adams Media, Inc.
Published: 2010-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

FEATURED CREATURES

Camels: “Ships” of the Sahara Desert

Camels’ humps are a distinguishing feature. Dromedary camels have one hump. Bactrian camels have two.

Camel humps store body fat in one place, rather than all around the animal. This way, the rest of the camel’s body can release extra heat.When stored fat is changed into body fuel, it produces water as a byproduct.

Camels cope well with Sahara sands.Their wide feet keep them from sinking into the hot sand. Pads protect the camel’s knees when they bend their legs.

Have you ever noticed how long camels’ eyelashes are? They protect their eyes from blowing sand. Camels’ long legs keep most of their bodies above the hot ground.

Just as a thermos keeps drinks hot or cold, camels’ fur insulates them.The insulation helps them keep a constant temperature despite cold desert nights and scorching hot days.

Camels can go a long time without drinking.Their urine is very concentrated, to minimize water loss. Sometimes camels come to an oasis — a wet desert area with an underground spring.Then they drink dozens of gallons of water at once!

Roadrunners

Fifteen miles (24 km) an hour may not seem fast, but the roadrunner’s speed lets it catch lizards, insects, mice, smaller birds, and other prey in southwestern American deserts.

Roadrunners stab their prey with their sharp beaks.They even attack scorpions and rattlesnakes! Then they leisurely eat their meal, a bit at a time.

Roadrunners are warm-blooded, but cold desert nights chill them.To warm up, roadrunners sun themselves in the morning, exposing their dark back skin and feathers to the sun.When the sun gets too hot, they rest in the shade.

Score One for the Scorpion

The sharp, curved stinger at the end of a scorpion’s tail contains poison. Sometimes the scorpion stings to defend itself against attack. It can also use its stinger to catch prey.

Scorpions eat insects, spiders, lizards, and other small animals.The scorpion grasps its prey with pincers on the end of two clawed legs.

Scorpions belong to a group of animals called arachnids.Arachnids have no backbone, but they do have a thick outer covering called an exoskeleton.The covering helps seal moisture inside the scorpion’s body.

Big ears aren’t just good for hearing. Fennec foxes, kit foxes, jerboas, and desert hares actually give off heat from their ears. They stay cooler this way.

Kangaroo rats don’t need to “drink” at all. Their bodies make water as a byproduct of the seeds they munch. Their urine is so concentrated, it’s nearly dry. Because kangaroo rats and other rodents don’t sweat, they save even more water.

The elf owl, kit fox, scorpion, and pack rat rest during the day. When night falls, they become active. Without sunshine and cloud cover to retain heat, even hot deserts get cool at night.

Some animals, like the desert ground squirrel, are active only in early morning and late afternoon. During the hottest part of the day, they rest under rocks or burrow into the sand. Just one foot (30 cm) down, the sand can be 60°F (33°C) cooler than the surface!

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