Xerocole facts for kids

Some antelope, like the addax (pictured), are amazing! They get all the water they need from plants and never have to drink.

A xerocole (say "ZEER-oh-kohl") is an animal that has special ways to live in the desert. The word "xerocole" comes from Greek and Latin words meaning "dry" and "to inhabit." These animals face two big challenges: finding enough water and dealing with the extreme heat. To stay safe from the sun, many xerocoles are active at night (they are nocturnal) or during dawn and dusk (they are crepuscular).

Xerocoles: Desert Survivors

Deserts are tough places to live. They are very dry and can get super hot during the day. But xerocoles have learned to survive and even thrive in these harsh conditions. They have developed amazing adaptations to save water and stay cool.

How Animals Survive in the Desert

Animals living in the desert have many clever tricks. They must protect themselves from the heat and make every drop of water count.

Saving Water in a Dry Place

Xerocoles are experts at saving water. Most of them do not sweat much, or they don't sweat at all. Sweating makes you lose water, so avoiding it helps them stay hydrated. Many desert birds and mammals have special oils on their skin. These oils act like a waterproof layer, stopping water from leaving their bodies.

Another way they save water is through their waste. Their urine (pee) and feces (poop) contain very little water. This means they get rid of waste without losing precious fluids. For example, the kangaroo rat can live its whole life without ever drinking water! It gets all it needs from the seeds it eats.

Staying Cool in the Heat

Cunningham's spiny-tailed skink and other cold-blooded animals often warm up by basking in the sun.

Keeping cool is just as important as saving water. Many desert animals avoid the hottest parts of the day. They might dig burrows underground where the temperature is much cooler. They come out to find food when the sun is not so strong.

Some animals, like the fennec fox, have very large ears. These ears are not just for hearing! They have many blood vessels close to the surface. When blood flows through these vessels, the heat escapes into the air, helping the fox cool down. The Cape ground squirrel uses its bushy tail like an umbrella. When it runs between shady spots, it holds its tail over its back to create its own shade.

Amazing Desert Animals

Many different kinds of animals are xerocoles. They include mammals, birds, reptiles, and even insects. Here are a few examples:

• Aardvark
• Coyote
• Gila monster
• Gemsbok
• Meerkat
• Ostrich

These animals show how life can adapt to almost any environment, even the driest deserts!

Images for kids

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  The fennec fox's large ears help keep it cool: when the blood vessels dilate, blood from the body cycles in and dissipates over the expanded surface area.

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  A kangaroo rat can live its entire life without ever having to drink.

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  When the Cape ground squirrel scurries from one shady spot to the next, he holds his wide, flat tail over his back to provide shade.