Sandfish Lizard Sand Swimming: How It Moves Underground
On the surface of a North African dune, a small golden skink pauses for an instant. Then it lowers its wedge-shaped head into the loose sand, drives forward, and disappears. …
desert wildlife
Saharan Silver Ant Heat Adaptation: Surviving Scorching Sand
At midday in the Sahara, sunlight beats down on exposed dunes and surface temperatures can climb toward 60–70°C (140–158°F). During this dangerous period, tiny silver ants emerge from underground and …
Thorny Devil Water Transport: How Its Skin Channels Water
Rain has darkened a patch of red Australian desert sand. A thorny devil moves across the wet surface, and liquid touching its body disappears into microscopic spaces associated with its …
Grasshopper Mouse vs. Scorpion Venom: How It Survives the Sting
Night has settled over the desert of the American Southwest. Between scattered rocks and dry vegetation, a southern grasshopper mouse moves toward a bark scorpion—dangerous prey armed with a venomous …