Sahara Desert Animals

Life in the Sahara desert must be tough. It is one of the largest desert area in the world. It is hot and dry during the day and the nights are cold and windy. There are no signs of food or drinking water for miles together. Only sand and more sand as far as the eye can see. While humans have found a way to survive in the desert oasis with some mutual cooperation, how do the Sahara desert animals manage? Which are the animals that survive this terrible desert?

What Animals Live in the Sahara Desert?

The animals that currently inhabit the Sahara desert are some of the oldest species in the world. Of course, a lot of them have undergone some level of adaptation so that they will be able to survive the deserts. So which are the common Sahara desert animals?

1. Camels: When one says the word 'desert', the second word that comes to our mind is 'camel'. There are two major types of camels found in the world, Bactrian and Dromedary camels. The Dromedary camel, which is said to be of Arabian Origin, is the main Saharan camel. The interesting thing about dromedary camels is that they store fat in their humps and not water. It can drink up to 100 liters of water in 10 minutes! But it is the favorite domesticated animal among the Saharan people as it has great strength, endurance and can go without water and food for a very long time.
2. Addax Antelope: Addax Antelope is one of the most beautiful animals in the world. But unfortunately for this lovely antelope, its horns are madly desired by people and hence, this animal has almost been hunted into extinction. They are flat-footed antelopes that can easily traverse the sandy landscape of the Sahara. The Addax Antelope is classified as an endangered animal.
3. Ostrich: Famous due to the irony of being a 'flightless' bird, the ostrich compensates its inability to fly by being one of the fastest land animals. An average ostrich can run at 40 miles per hour! Ostriches are the largest birds in the world and different breeds of ostriches are found in various parts of the Sahara desert.
4. Goats: Goats are found almost everywhere in the world, so why should the Sahara desert be any exception? Goats are popularly domesticated by the Saharan people along with camels. Goats are mainly domesticated for their milk but are sometimes used to carry goods by the nomads.
5. Dorcas Gazelle: The Dorcas Gazelle is another exceptionally beautiful animal found in the Sahara. It is the most common species of gazelle and stands up to 65 cm tall and weighs around 25 kgs. It is also known as the Ariel Gazelle.
6. Deathstalker Scorpion: Scorpions are another breed of animals that are commonly found in desert areas and the deathstalker scorpion or the Leiurus quinquestriatus is the native scorpion of the Sahara Desert. It can grow up to 10 cm long and although toxic, its venom is not very fatal.
7. Monitor Lizard: The monitor lizard is another native of the Sahara Desert and is called so as it stands on its two hind legs and appears to be monitoring the surroundings.
8. Sand Vipers: Sand Vipers can grow up to 50 cm in length. They venture out only during the night, and usually bury themselves in the sand during the day. Their bites too are rarely fatal.

Needless to say, this was not an exhaustive list! The other Sahara desert animals include snakes like the cobra, rattlesnakes and viper breeds; birds like the African Silverbill, Black-throated Fire Finch, Barn Owl, Desert Eagle and Nubian Bustards; predators like the spotted hyena and endangered species like the Saharan Cheetah. Looking at the Sahara desert and its hostile climate, it is hard to imagine how these animals stay here. But somehow these Sahara desert animals have evolved and adapted to this place where everyday there is a race - a race for precious water.