Fennec Fox Adaptations
They all have similar and different characteristics and anatomy but what makes each one able to inhabit the harsh environment of the desert. They all have the ability to withstand the heat of the desert. The horned viper is one of the most venomous and abundant snakes of its range. They are usually under 2 feet in length. The snakes range mostly spans the Sahara desert It prefers drier areas with sand that is finer and looser and goes in rock opening especially at higher with less harsh desert temperatures. Its bite is mostly not fatal to humans has serious consequences the venom has more than 13 different toxins. They can cause conditions like massive swelling and excessive bleeding or clotting depending on the toxins. The Horned Viper eats
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mostly lizards, mammals and birds that live in its environment. It catches it's prey by hiding only having its head exposed and then jumps out and strikes its victim.
Horned Viper Burrowing itself ready to ambush it's prey
The Horned Viper is mostly active at night and spends its days buried under the sand or rocks. It moves by sidewinding which it moves by going sideways not forwards. It moves randomly over a large area. It buries itself in the sand it does this for protection from the sun but also to attack its prey ambushing it.
Anatomy the snake skeleton isn't very complex because of the lack of limbs. Adaptations to the skull allow the snake to eat prey larger than themselves. There are bones connected by elastic ligaments allowing the mouth to be able to stretch.
The hooded vulture like any other vulture is a scavenger feeding on dead animals and waste. It has broad wings for soaring and a short tail it is small compared to the other species of vultures. They are mostly brown and scruffy looking. Its habitat often is around human settlements and also lives in open grasslands, wooded savannahs and deserts. It breeds in stick nests made in trees it lays one egg. They often move in flocks they are mostly unafraid of humans. Vultures have hooked bills which makes it easier to rip flesh. There species is in a deep decline because of habitat loss and and hunting. The species is spread out mostly around the sahara desert Africa.
The red spotted toad is a toad that lives areas like desert streams, springs and are found in rocky areas but they are found around any water sources. The toad can grow up to 3 inches across It has a flattened head and body this allows it to be able to fit in tight spots in rocks. Red spotted toads mostly spend their days under rocks and then come out during the night and find a water source to breed or forage. They eat many different kinds of bugs it launches its sticky tongue at its prey and brings it back to its mouth. The Horned viper also has a similar way of attacking its prey by lunging out with speed. For their reproduction they have external fertilization.
The Fennec fox is a nocturnal fox that lives in the Sahara Desert.
The Fennec fox has a lifespan of up to 14 years in capacity. Its predators are different varieties of owl. The Fennec fox usually lives in a den that is dug in sand it stays in places with sheltered plants and sand dunes. It is the smallest species of fox in the world. The Fox has thick fur that helps keep it cool during the day but warm during the cold nights. The large ears help regulate the body heat of the fox. It mainly eats insects plants rodents fruits and small reptiles. The fur of the Fennec fox is a sandy color that helps it hunt and is good camouflage. They are about 14 to 17 inches long they have tails that are about 8 inches long and it helps them change direction quickly There entre body is built for speed. Just like the horned viper they both have ways of dealing with the weather like burrowing themselves in the sand. The breeding season for the fennec fox happens between january through march they only give birth once a year. After around 52 days 2-5 young are born. The males are kept away from the den until the young are older. Like the hooded vulture the fennec fox moves in groups of up to 10. But unlike vultures the fox males are territorial and mark their boundaries with urine. I think the Fennec fox is an perfect animal to be able to live against the harsh climate because of how it evolved how it can keep itself warm with its fur during the night and by keeping itself cool during the night. It has evolved to know that it needs to bury itself from the
weather.
The pupfish is a small silver looking fish this fish only grows up to 2.5 inches. Pupfish develop very quickly. They can reach full maturity within 2-3 months but their average lifespan is only 6-9 months sometimes longer. They live in warm desert pools streams or marshes they also eat algae and small invertebrates. When spring starts and the water becomes warmer the pupfish becomes more active and this is when they start their mating ritual. During this time males become blue and begin to defend there territory. They will chase away any fish that isn't a female pupfish that are ready to spawn. Spawning usually starts during february and counties throughout summer. Many fish die from the heat getting to high and causing the pools of water to dry up and killing them this is how most of them die out. Only some of the fish survive because of the pools that don't dry up. There predators are birds,frogs and crayfish they eat a large number of pupfish. The lifecycle of the pupfish revolves entirely around there food availability. They spend there lives in small springs where they first mate lay their eggs the eggs hatch and they mature to adult good the cycle then continues. I think the pupfish has the most different anatomy of the animals I picked unlike the toad which is the closest relative it never grew legs and it never evolved to breath out of water which is how most of them die. How much would it change if it evolved to come out of water and still be able to resist the heat of the desert.
mostly lizards, mammals and birds that live in its environment. It catches it's prey by hiding only having its head exposed and then jumps out and strikes its victim.
Horned Viper Burrowing itself ready to ambush it's prey
The Horned Viper is mostly active at night and spends its days buried under the sand or rocks. It moves by sidewinding which it moves by going sideways not forwards. It moves randomly over a large area. It buries itself in the sand it does this for protection from the sun but also to attack its prey ambushing it.
Anatomy the snake skeleton isn't very complex because of the lack of limbs. Adaptations to the skull allow the snake to eat prey larger than themselves. There are bones connected by elastic ligaments allowing the mouth to be able to stretch.
The hooded vulture like any other vulture is a scavenger feeding on dead animals and waste. It has broad wings for soaring and a short tail it is small compared to the other species of vultures. They are mostly brown and scruffy looking. Its habitat often is around human settlements and also lives in open grasslands, wooded savannahs and deserts. It breeds in stick nests made in trees it lays one egg. They often move in flocks they are mostly unafraid of humans. Vultures have hooked bills which makes it easier to rip flesh. There species is in a deep decline because of habitat loss and and hunting. The species is spread out mostly around the sahara desert Africa.
The red spotted toad is a toad that lives areas like desert streams, springs and are found in rocky areas but they are found around any water sources. The toad can grow up to 3 inches across It has a flattened head and body this allows it to be able to fit in tight spots in rocks. Red spotted toads mostly spend their days under rocks and then come out during the night and find a water source to breed or forage. They eat many different kinds of bugs it launches its sticky tongue at its prey and brings it back to its mouth. The Horned viper also has a similar way of attacking its prey by lunging out with speed. For their reproduction they have external fertilization.
The Fennec fox is a nocturnal fox that lives in the Sahara Desert.
The Fennec fox has a lifespan of up to 14 years in capacity. Its predators are different varieties of owl. The Fennec fox usually lives in a den that is dug in sand it stays in places with sheltered plants and sand dunes. It is the smallest species of fox in the world. The Fox has thick fur that helps keep it cool during the day but warm during the cold nights. The large ears help regulate the body heat of the fox. It mainly eats insects plants rodents fruits and small reptiles. The fur of the Fennec fox is a sandy color that helps it hunt and is good camouflage. They are about 14 to 17 inches long they have tails that are about 8 inches long and it helps them change direction quickly There entre body is built for speed. Just like the horned viper they both have ways of dealing with the weather like burrowing themselves in the sand. The breeding season for the fennec fox happens between january through march they only give birth once a year. After around 52 days 2-5 young are born. The males are kept away from the den until the young are older. Like the hooded vulture the fennec fox moves in groups of up to 10. But unlike vultures the fox males are territorial and mark their boundaries with urine. I think the Fennec fox is an perfect animal to be able to live against the harsh climate because of how it evolved how it can keep itself warm with its fur during the night and by keeping itself cool during the night. It has evolved to know that it needs to bury itself from the
weather.
The pupfish is a small silver looking fish this fish only grows up to 2.5 inches. Pupfish develop very quickly. They can reach full maturity within 2-3 months but their average lifespan is only 6-9 months sometimes longer. They live in warm desert pools streams or marshes they also eat algae and small invertebrates. When spring starts and the water becomes warmer the pupfish becomes more active and this is when they start their mating ritual. During this time males become blue and begin to defend there territory. They will chase away any fish that isn't a female pupfish that are ready to spawn. Spawning usually starts during february and counties throughout summer. Many fish die from the heat getting to high and causing the pools of water to dry up and killing them this is how most of them die out. Only some of the fish survive because of the pools that don't dry up. There predators are birds,frogs and crayfish they eat a large number of pupfish. The lifecycle of the pupfish revolves entirely around there food availability. They spend there lives in small springs where they first mate lay their eggs the eggs hatch and they mature to adult good the cycle then continues. I think the pupfish has the most different anatomy of the animals I picked unlike the toad which is the closest relative it never grew legs and it never evolved to breath out of water which is how most of them die. How much would it change if it evolved to come out of water and still be able to resist the heat of the desert.