The lurking hypothetical planet
These diminutive near-translucent lizards have amazing webbed feet that help them stay on top of soft, powdery sand. They collect dew drops on their lidless eyes to survive in the scorching heat of the Namib desert in Africa, their primary habitat.
One of the largest chameleon species in southern Africa, the Namaqua is found in the western desert regions of Namibia, South Africa, and southern Angola.
This handsome medium-sized wild cat is recognized for its sleek streamlined body, its short, reddish gold coat, and the dramatic markings on its face. Nocturnal and highly secretive, the caracal roams the savannas, deserts, and forests of much of Africa and parts of the Middle East.
Native to Australia, the red kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos and the largest living marsupial. Muscular and powerful, the species lives in the country's deserts and open grasslands, gathering in groups known as mobs.
The near-threatened brown hyena is the rarest species of hyena. They live in clans of up to six individuals and are found in desert and semi-desert areas of Namibia, Botswana, western and southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, and South Africa.
Tall cacti regularly provide a lofty perch for the Harris's hawk. Their distribution encompasses sparse woodland and semi-desert across the southwestern United States south to Chile, central Argentina, and Brazil.
The smallest of the world's foxes, the fennec fox nonetheless possesses a pair of huge ears, measuring 12 cm (6 in) that serve to dissipate heat. Perfectly adapted to life in the Sahara Desert and elsewhere in North Africa, it's mostly active during the twilight period.
Noted for its long, spiral horns, the critically endangered addax—also known as the white antelope and the screwhorn antelope—is native to the Sahara Desert. In fact, it's the most desert-adapted of all African antelopes.
Easily recognized for the two humps on its back (in contrast to the more familiar single-humped dromedary camel), the Bactrian is found in Central and East Asia's rocky deserts. Indeed, it's named after the ancient historical region of Bactria, an area that today encompasses Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico provide sanctuary for this stout, heat-loving desert dweller.
The "horns" present over each eye of this snake lend it a somewhat sinister appearance. Be careful where you tread through the deserts of northern Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula and Levant, as this viper is venomous.
Known to millions after the cartoon character was created in 1948, the roadrunner is a species of fast-running ground cuckoo found in the desert areas of southwestern and south-central United States and Mexico. It can fly, but often prefers to outrun predators, among them wily coyotes!
Erroneously described as a toad, this tiny amphibian spends most of the year several meters underground in a dormant state protected from extreme temperatures and dryness. It is native to the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and the Baja peninsula.
Attaining a length of 14 cm (15.5 in), this is the largest scorpion in North America. Commonly found in burrows, under rocks, and in caves, you'll usually only see them at night foraging for food. Despite its frightening dimensions, its venom is not that potent, its sting perceived to be about as painful as a honeybee's sting. Beware, however: an allergic reaction to its venom can be fatal.
This extraordinary creature is endemic to the arid scrubland and desert that covers most of central Australia. Its intimidating array of rigid, pointy spikes serve as defensive camouflage against predators.
When it feels threatened, the armadillo girdled lizard will adopt a defensive position similar in shape to a ourobouros—the ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. You'll need to be on the western coast of South Africa to witness this fascinating posture.
This adorable-looking nocturnal rodent with its long tail, large ears, and elongated hind legs is native to the deserts of northwest China and southern Mongolia.
Curiously, this flightless insect is not native to Jerusalem. Rather, they are found in the western United States and parts of Mexico. You're very likely to hear this cricket before you see one, its characteristic drumming a familiar desert habitat soundtrack.
North Africa, pockets of east Africa, and across the Arabian Peninsula are places to look for this spiny mammal, one of the smallest of hedgehogs and perfectly adapted to hot, dry deserts.
Its name alone is enough to send shivers down your back. The deathstalker is one of the most dangerous species of scorpions, its venom a powerful mixture of neurotoxins, with a low lethal dose. Tread carefully if exploring the deserts of North Africa, India's Thar Desert, and those in Central Asia and across the Arabian Peninsular.
Sources: (IUCN Red List) (DesertUSA) (BBC)
See also: The most poisonous animals on the planet
Critically endangered and exclusive to Africa's Namib desert, these lions can endure near unbearable conditions. They can live without water for extended periods, and will often travel long distances in search of prey. Habitat loss and conflict with the local communities have seriously depleted their numbers.
Native to desert and steppe areas of the Arabian Peninsula, this magnificent beast was extinct in the wild by the early 1970s. It was saved in zoos and private reserves, and, while still vulnerable, its numbers have slowly increased. The Arabian oryx is the national animal of Jordan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar.
A vulnerable species, the Arabian sand gazelle survives in the wild in small, isolated populations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and southeastern Turkey.
They look dangerous and aggressive and while not poisonous to humans, the camel spider's bite is painful. Found across the Middle East, it's a ferocious predator, feeding on insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds.
These slow and gentle creatures can live up to 80 years and are native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They are critically endangered, so if you stumble upon one, admire from a distance and then leave it in peace.
The near threatened onager resembles a donkey and lives in deserts and other arid regions of Iran, India, Central Asia, and China.
Did you know that the Saharan silver ant is the fastest of the world's 12,000 known ant species? This microscopic critter can travel a blistering distance 108 times its own body length per second.
This small, solitary feline native to deserts in Africa and Asia is superbly adapted to life in a hot, arid environment. It's characterized by a flat wide head, short legs, and a relatively long tail. The long hair covering the soles of its paws insulates its pads against the extremely hot and cold desert temperatures.
There are 16 species of sandgrouse, including the Namaqua sandgrouse (pictured), all of which are comfortably at home in the plains, savannahs, and semi-deserts of Africa and Asia.
A venomous pit viper species, the sidewinder is known for the peculiar locomotion it employs to move across the sand, adopting a sidewinder action to traverse the loose surface. Look for its telltale tracks in the desert regions of the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
A desert environment may appear one of the harshest habitats in the animal kingdom, but far from being barren wastelands, deserts are rich in biodiversity and home to a huge variety of wildlife. Indeed, there are numerous weird and wonderful creatures that positively thrive in the extreme temperatures that characterize the Earth's desert regions. So, are you interested in what lives on and below sand?
Click through and discover a wealth of extraordinary desert-dwelling wildlife.
Wonderful desert-dwelling wildlife
Find out what lives on and below sand
LIFESTYLE Animal kingdom
A desert environment may appear one of the harshest habitats in the animal kingdom, but far from being barren wastelands, deserts are rich in biodiversity and home to a huge variety of wildlife. Indeed, there are numerous weird and wonderful creatures that positively thrive in the extreme temperatures that characterize the Earth's desert regions. So, are you interested in what lives on and below sand?
Click through and discover a wealth of extraordinary desert-dwelling wildlife.