Tag desert

CREATURE FEATURE: Addax

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The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is an ungulate (hoofed) mammal in the antelope family. It is also known as the White Antelope and the Screwhorn Antelope. It is similar to the Scimitar Oryx.

The Addax has pale-coloured (white or sandy blonde) fur in summer that darkens to greyish-brown in winter. It has white hindquarters and legs. The hair on its head, neck, and shoulders is long and brown. Its head has brown or black markings that form an X-shape over its nose. The male and female have long, spiraled, and twisted horns. Long black hairs protrude between its horns, ending in a short mane on its neck. Its tail is short, ending with a tuft of black hair.

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Salt Licks and Salt Pans

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A salt lick, also called a mineral lick, is a place where animals go to lick the the salt and other minerals that have formed a deposit on the ground. It is naturally occurring. A salt lick is white.

Animals benefit from the minerals, such as phosphorus, sodium, calcium, iron, magnesium, sulphur, potassium, and zinc.

The minerals help to develop healthy bones and muscles.

Animals that prefer salt licks include antelopes, elephants, lions, moose, tapirs, cattle, sheep, goats, foxes, squirrels, and porcupines.

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Deserts and Semi-Deserts

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In true deserts, most of the land has no plant life, the annual rainfall ranges from 0-1.5 centimetres (0-6 inches), the daytime heat is intense and the nighttime temperatures are freezing.

Semi-deserts have 1.5-3 centimetres (6-12 inches) of rain annually on average, usually only falling in one or two months of the year.

Deserts can be hot, cold semi-arid, or coastal.

Plants may be scarce in most deserts, but the seeds of plants lie dormant for years. They sprout during the times of rain.

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Dromedary Camel

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The Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large, one-hump ungulate (hoofed) mammal, native to northern Africa and the Middle East, with a large population of introduced camels in Australia.

The Dromedary Camel has sandy-brown body, a long, curved neck, a single hump, and long legs. It has small, rounded ears, and large eyes. It has bushy eyebrows and double-layered eyelashes to prevent sand getting in its eyes. It has two toes on each padded hoof. Its flat hooves are adapted to supporting their weight on desert sands.

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Animal Habitats and Climate Types

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Habitat refers to the natural home of an animal. An animal can live in a nest, a burrow, a hole, a kennel, a tree, in the sea, in a lake, in a mound, on another animal, inside another animal, a hive, a cave, or in a tunnel.

These habitats may be in different climate zones, such as warm locations or cold locations.

Often when zoologists discuss habitat, they also mention climate, seasons, and weather. Climate and weather are different. Climate includes temperature (heat), humidity (moisture in the air), atmospheric pressure (air pressure), wind, hours of sunlight, and rainfall. Weather is the present condition of these elements in a specific place (usually daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly).

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