true/false
Deserts are always hot.
False. Some deserts, like Antarctica, are cold deserts.
What desert animal stores water in its body to survive long dry periods
Camel
What is the most well-known desert plant that stores water in its thick stem?
Cactus
What is the average annual rainfall in a desert? (cm or inches)
Less than 50 cm (20 inches)
What is the largest hot desert in the world?
The Sahara Desert.
Deserts receive less than 25 cm of rain per year.
True
This reptile is known for its ability to blend into the desert sand.
Lizard
Name a plant that closes its pores during the day to conserve water.
Succulents like aloe or agave.
Why are desert temperatures often extreme between day and night?
Because of the lack of humidity and cloud cover.
Which desert covers much of southwestern United States?
The Sonoran Desert.
All deserts are sandy.
Name a nocturnal desert predator.
Fennec fox or desert owl.
What adaptation do desert plants have to reduce water loss?
Waxy coating on leaves and stems.
What weather event can occur suddenly in deserts and be very dangerous?
Flash floods
Name the coldest desert in the world.
Antarctica
Desert sand is always gold
False. Some can be white, pink, red, black and even green
What desert insect builds large underground colonies?
Ant
What is the name of the desert plant that can remain dormant for years until it rains?
Resurrection plant.
What is a dust storm called in the Sahara Desert?
Haboob.
What is the famous desert in Australia called?
The Outback or Great Victoria Desert.
Deserts can experience freezing temperatures at night.
True
How do kangaroo rats survive without drinking water?
They get water from the seeds they eat and produce very concentrated urine.
How do deep roots help desert plants?
They reach underground water sources.
Why do deserts cool down so quickly at night?
The dry air doesn’t retain heat.
Which desert is home to the Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth?
The Atacama Desert in South America.