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Adaptations of desert plants and animals

Adaptations of desert plants: Plants found in deserts are well adapted to cope with harsh desert conditions such as water scarcity and scorching heat. Plants have an extensive root system to absorb underground water. They bear thick cuticles and sunken stomata on the surface of their leaves to reduce transpiration. In Opuntia, the leaves are modified into spines and the process of photosynthesis is carried out by green stems. Desert plants synthesize food through C4 pathway. It enables the stomata to remain closed during the day to reduce the loss of water through transpiration.

Adaptations of desert animals: the common animals that are found in deserts are desert kangaroo rats, insects, reptiles such as lizards and snakes, etc. The integument of Insects and reptiles that are found in desert is impervious tp prevent any loss of water. They excrete nitrogen in the form of uric acid. Rodents stay in burrows during the day to avoid evaporation and water loss and conserve water by excreting highly concentrated urine and by not using water for temperature regulation. Desert lizards and snakes bask in the sun during early morning and burrow themselves in the sand during afternoons to escape the heat of the day.