{"id":16019,"date":"2016-04-15T11:58:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-15T15:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mapofthemonth.com\/site\/?p=16019"},"modified":"2016-04-15T11:58:33","modified_gmt":"2016-04-15T15:58:33","slug":"desert-creatures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapofthemonth.com\/site\/desert-creatures\/","title":{"rendered":"DESERT ANIMALS in America!"},"content":{"rendered":"

The deserts of the United States\u00a0are home to many interesting desert animals.<\/h3>\n

In order to survive, these animals have adapted to the harsh terrain of the arid landscape.<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Small, hard and scrambling desert animal!<\/h2>\n

THe MOJAVE DESERT<\/strong> forms a large part of southern California. \u00a0Within it are smaller desert areas, some with slightly different terrain and vegetation. \u00a0Throughout the whole area, you can see the Desert Tortoise, measuring about a foot. \u00a0This creature often get his liquid, a necessity in the hard dry dessert, from eating various kinds of prickly pear cactus. \u00a0The broad flat sections of the cactus, as well as the fruit that comes after the plant flowers, are a source of moisture and food.<\/p>\n

\"DesertTortoise\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"600px-Opuntia_fragilis\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\"Prickly_Pear_Closeup\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Desert animals wearing a coat!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Within the Mohave Desert is the very colorful and interesting area called\u00a0Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area<\/b>, which is in the state of Nevada. \u00a0This area is known for its boldly colored red rock outcrops that emerge from the land. \u00a0There is often more vegetation in this area due to below ground springs, and it is enough to support WILD BURROWS<\/strong>\u00a0and DESERT COTTONTAIL RABBITS<\/strong>\u00a0that live there, scavenging for growth to eat.<\/p>\n

\"640px-Wild_Burros\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"640px-Joshua_Tree_NP_-_Cottontail_-_1c\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Desert Cottontail photo credit:\u00a0Jarek Tuszynski<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Desert Animals can have unique coloration<\/h2>\n

Some creatures have skin, often with texture, that camouflages them from their predators. \u00a0Many horned lizards live in the American deserts, and one of the most\u00a0common\u00a0is the Texas Horned Lizard<\/strong>, that grows from 3-4 inches long. \u00a0Sometimes these are called “horny toads.”<\/p>\n

\"800px-Federal_horned_toad_pic_crop\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Much larger is the Gila Monster<\/strong>, the only poisonous lizard in the United States. \u00a0His venom, and his 20″ dominant size, protects him from predators. \u00a0His scaly skin can blend in with rocks. \u00a0These creatures are very slow moving, and prefer deserts with succulent vegetation.<\/p>\n

\"640px-Gila_monster_-_Animaux_venimeux_et_venins,_1922_(18172980816)\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A small creature known as the Kit Fox lives in the desert and shares the color of the sand. \u00a0His ears are very large and he can detect predators easily. \u00a0He is a carnivore, and eats creates smaller than himself, and will also eat carrion that has been killed by a larger animal. \u00a0He stays out of the sun as much as possible, and prowls at night.<\/p>\n

\"800px-Vulpes_macrotis_mutica_sitting-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Quick-moving desert animals<\/h2>\n

The Fringe-toes Lizard, can be found the the sandy deserts of the American southwest. \u00a0 This fast little creature is about 8″ long, and has fringe-like scales on his rear feet. \u00a0The scales provide more traction so he can scurry along quickly when he is being pursued. \u00a0He can even burrow quickly into soft dsand dunes to hide.<\/p>\n

\"Coachella_Valley_Fringe-toed_Lizard\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Another speedy creature is the Roadrunner, who can run at 20 miles an hour. \u00a0These are also known as chaparral birds, and live in the deserts of the southwestern US and desert land in Mexico. \u00a0The measures anywhere from 18″ to 20″ long, from beak to tip of tail.<\/p>\n

\"Roadrunner_DeathValley\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Help your students learn more about DESERTS and desert animals!<\/h2>\n

Our CartoCraze! Expanded Map Workshops<\/a><\/strong> are digital files that can be shared by everyone in your school.<\/h3>\n

SPECIAL: \u00a0A membership is FREE this year, all of 2016, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary<\/strong>— just order 500 maps or more, and your school will receive these 44 digital files<\/a> that cover DESERTS, MOUNTAINS, RIVERS and ISLANDS.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For a FREE taste of one of our DESERT files, see this free file\u00a0about the SAHARA DESERT, HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n

\"800px-KelsoSand\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Screen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The deserts of the United States\u00a0are home to many interesting desert animals. In order to survive, these animals have adapted to the harsh terrain of the arid landscape.   Small, hard and scrambling desert animal! THe MOJAVE DESERT forms a large part of southern California. \u00a0Within it are smaller desert areas, some with slightly different […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4988,"featured_media":16044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[203],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-geography-blog","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"yoast_head":"\nDESERT ANIMALS in America! - Maps for the Classroom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The deserts of North America are home to many interesting desert animals. 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