Flora and fauna in the sahara desert
The Sahara is made up of many different species of flora. The Sahara is made up of 500 species of plants. Most of these plants grow on the edge of Oases and wadis with their long roots drinking up the water. The plants that lie in the arid part of the desert suck in the aquifers below the surface to grow. Other plants have seeds that lie dormant for many years and grow when weather patterns change.
Adenium obesum, Anastatica, Aristida pungens, Artemisia herba-alba, Atlantic coastal, Atriplex halimus
Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia senegalensis, Brassica tournefortii
Calotropis procera, Cenchrus ciliaris, Citrullus colocynthis, Cornulaca monacantha, Cupressus dupreziana
Ephedra alata, Ephedra altissima, Euphorbia balsamifera, Echinochloa
Faidherbia
Gymnarrhena
Lifago, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus
Maerua crassifolia, Medemia
Panicum turgidum, Pistacia aethiopica, Pistacia atlantica
Saharo-Arabian Region, Salvadora persica, Senegalia laeta, Sporobolus spicatus, Stipa tenacissima
Tamarix aphylla
Vachellia seyal
Ziziphus lotus
The Sahara is home to 70 species of mammals, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles and a few species of arthropods. Some of the Mammals include Barbary sheep, oryx, anubis baboon, spotted hyena, dama gazelle, common jackal and sand fox. The birds include : ostriches, secretary birds, Nubian bustards and various raptors. The reptiles include : cobras, chameleons, skinks, various lizards and near a large amount of water crocodiles can be found. The arthropods which are basically insects include : numerous ants, scarab beetles and scorpions more specifically the Deathstalker. The Sahara’s most well known fauna is the dromedary camel which has been used for over thousand of years by desert nomads. This camel can travel for days without food and water, with its large lips it can eat thorny plants, salt-full vegetation and dry grasses. With its large hooves it can maneuver itself up rocky and sandy terrain. With their small nostrils and large eyelashes and eyebrows can act as a barrier for its nose and eyes from heavy sandstorms. When water is nearby the camel can sniff it out and drink up to 113.5 Litres of water in a few minutes to be prepared for the hotter drier days. The Sahara’s harsh climate makes it crucial for the wildlife to adapt to the arid conditions, fierce wind, intense heat and large temperature changes. In the Heart of the Sahara where the weather is the hottest most animals are small so they can minimize the effect of dehydration. The water that they need to survive mostly comes from their diets. During the day they sleep in their burrows and at night they look for food when the temperature is cooler. Most animals adapt to the heat such as the fennec fox who has hairy feet which protects them from the heat.
Adenium obesum, Anastatica, Aristida pungens, Artemisia herba-alba, Atlantic coastal, Atriplex halimus
Balanites aegyptiaca, Boscia senegalensis, Brassica tournefortii
Calotropis procera, Cenchrus ciliaris, Citrullus colocynthis, Cornulaca monacantha, Cupressus dupreziana
Ephedra alata, Ephedra altissima, Euphorbia balsamifera, Echinochloa
Faidherbia
Gymnarrhena
Lifago, Lonchocarpus laxiflorus
Maerua crassifolia, Medemia
Panicum turgidum, Pistacia aethiopica, Pistacia atlantica
Saharo-Arabian Region, Salvadora persica, Senegalia laeta, Sporobolus spicatus, Stipa tenacissima
Tamarix aphylla
Vachellia seyal
Ziziphus lotus
The Sahara is home to 70 species of mammals, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles and a few species of arthropods. Some of the Mammals include Barbary sheep, oryx, anubis baboon, spotted hyena, dama gazelle, common jackal and sand fox. The birds include : ostriches, secretary birds, Nubian bustards and various raptors. The reptiles include : cobras, chameleons, skinks, various lizards and near a large amount of water crocodiles can be found. The arthropods which are basically insects include : numerous ants, scarab beetles and scorpions more specifically the Deathstalker. The Sahara’s most well known fauna is the dromedary camel which has been used for over thousand of years by desert nomads. This camel can travel for days without food and water, with its large lips it can eat thorny plants, salt-full vegetation and dry grasses. With its large hooves it can maneuver itself up rocky and sandy terrain. With their small nostrils and large eyelashes and eyebrows can act as a barrier for its nose and eyes from heavy sandstorms. When water is nearby the camel can sniff it out and drink up to 113.5 Litres of water in a few minutes to be prepared for the hotter drier days. The Sahara’s harsh climate makes it crucial for the wildlife to adapt to the arid conditions, fierce wind, intense heat and large temperature changes. In the Heart of the Sahara where the weather is the hottest most animals are small so they can minimize the effect of dehydration. The water that they need to survive mostly comes from their diets. During the day they sleep in their burrows and at night they look for food when the temperature is cooler. Most animals adapt to the heat such as the fennec fox who has hairy feet which protects them from the heat.