• Distribution: Deserts are hot and low rain areas suffering from water shortage and high wind velocity. They show extremes of temperature. Globally deserts occupy about 1/7th of the earth’s surface.
• Flora and fauna: Cacti, Acacia, Euphorbia and prickly pears are some of the common desert plants. Desert animals include shrew, fox, wood rats, rabbits, camels and goat are common mammals in desert. Other prominent desert animals are, reptiles, and burrowing rodent’s insects.
• Adaptations: Desert plants are hot and dry conditions.

(i) These plants conserve water by following methods:

• They are mostly shrubs.
• Leaves absent or reduced in size.
• Leaves and stem are succulent and water storing.
• In some plants even the stem contains chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
• Root system well developed spread over large area.

(ii) The animals are physiologically and behaviorally adapted to desert conditions.

• They are fast runners.
• They are nocturnal in habit to avoid the sun’s heat during day time.
• They conserve water by excreting concentrated urine.
• Animals and birds usually have long legs to keep the body away from the hot ground.
• Lizards are mostly insectivorous and can live without drinking water for several days.
• Herbivorous animals get sufficient water from the seeds which they eat.

Camel is known as the ship of the desert as it can travel long distances without drinking water for several days.