The Sahara Desert
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Animal life - Native animals


DROMEDARY CAMEL

The Dromedary Camel, native to the Sahara, is scientifically known as Camelus Dromedarius. Over time, the dromedary camel has adapted a lot to the vast land of the Sahara, allowing it to survive in the desert. Some of its adaptations are its two rows of long eyelashes that protect it from the sun, its fat stored humps that allow it to store food and water, its ability to close nostrils to keep out sand and dust, its thick fur and underwool that provide it protection from the cold winter nights, its long and strong legs that help it to carry heavy loads, its thick leathery patches on its knees that help it sit down, and its broad hooves that stabilize it on the sand.


ADDAX ANTELOPE


The Addax Antelope, native to the Sahara, is scientifically known as Addax Nasomaculatus. Over time, the addax antelope has adapted to the the harsh environment of the Sahara, allowing it to survive and interact in the desert. Some of its adaptations are its white fur coat that helps it reflect the hot sun in the summer and its grey coat that helps absorb the sun in the winer, their development of wider hooves that help it to mobilize in the sand, and their change in diet to grass, herbs, and leaves.


OSTRICH

The ostrich, native to the Sahara, is scientifically knwon as the Struthio Camelus. Over time, the ostrich has adapted to the conditions of the Sahara, enabling it to survive in the desert. A couple of the ostrich's most stunning adaptions are its long and powerful legs that allow it to run up to 40 mph, and its long and powerful toes, which it has adapted to using to run, while putting all of its body weight on its toes. 


FENNEC FOX


The fennec fox, native to the Sahara, is scientifically known as Vulpes zerda. Over time, the fennec fox has adapted to the harsh environment of the Sahara, allowing it to survive in the desert. Some of its adaptations include, its thick fur that keeps it warm in the winters, its sandy colored fur that give it the ability to camouflage, its large ears that help it to release body heat in the hot summers, and the thick fur on the soles of their feet which help to insulate against the hot sand of the desert.


JERBOA


The jerboa, native to the Sahara, is scientifically known as the Euchoreutes naso. Ove time, the jerboa has adapted to the conditions of the Sahara, allowing it to survive in the desert. Some of the adaptations of the jerboa are its long hind legs that help it to escape quickly from predators, its long tail that helps it keep balance, and the special folds in its skin that help prevent getting sand in its hair and nostrils. 




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