Chapter 1
The driest and hottest extremes
Chapter 2
Cold deserts and polar plains
Chapter 3
Bizarre survival and desert life
Chapter 4
Mysteries and landmarks of the sands
YOUR GOAL
Master of Secrets of the world's deserts
Ch 3 · Bizarre survival and desert life
schopenhauer Namib Desert Fog Beetle
I tilt my bumpy back to catch the morning breeze, and drink the rolling fog with total, perfect ease.
schopenhauer Camels can survive extreme dehydration because their oval-shaped red blood cells can expand up to 240 percent.
schopenhauer Saharan silver ants use triangular-shaped hairs to reflect sunlight and survive temperatures up to 70 degrees Celsius.
BETA
schopenhauer Match bizarre landmarks to their correct locations to discover the world's most unusual deserts.
Fun Fact
Camel hump myth: A camel's hump does not store water; it stores fat to insulate the body and minimize heat.
Glossary
estivation (noun)
A state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate. To endure intense heat, the spadefoot toad burrows underground and estivates for up to ten months.
A state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate. To endure intense heat, the spadefoot toad burrows underground and estivates for up to ten months.
Quiz
Where does the tiny desert rain frog of South Africa spend the hot daytime hours to avoid drying out?
Quiz
How many leaves does the ancient Welwitschia mirabilis plant of the Namib Desert grow during its entire lifespan?
Quiz
What shape are a camel's red blood cells, allowing them to flow even during severe dehydration?
Quiz
What is the maximum body temperature a Saharan silver ant can tolerate before it becomes fatal?
Quiz
What unique shape do the hairs of the Saharan silver ant have to help reflect sunlight?
Quiz
What does a camel actually store inside its humps to help regulate its body temperature?
Quiz
Roughly how many liters of water can a thirsty camel drink in a single 13-minute session?
Quiz
How does the desert rain frog primarily absorb water from its foggy environment?