Even though the Great Sandy Desert is dry and hot, many animals who live there have adapted to the heat and lack of water.
Animals and plants such as Australian feral camels, death adders and thorny devil dragons have adapted in interestingly different ways.
Animals and plants such as Australian feral camels, death adders and thorny devil dragons have adapted in interestingly different ways.
- Australian feral camels have adapted by storing water in their humps and they have two rows of long eyelashes to protect from sand coming into their eyes.
- Death adders' skin is the same colour of the sand and rocks to camouflage and make it easier to find a meal.
- Thorny Devil Dragons have spikes to help get them water. In the mornings they rub against dew drops on a spinifex (grass with spiny leaves) and the moisture runs between the spikes along grooves that run directly into their mouths.
- Cacti have widespread roots that collect water from a large area, the stems store the water and cacti have spines instead of leaves to minimise the surface area and reduce water loss by transpiration. The spines also protect the cacti from animals that might eat them.
Barely any humans live there as it is too warm, and there is a huge risk of getting dehydrated. Some aboriginals (native people), however, do live or spend a lot of time there.