desert food chain

Desert animals:cute Huh?

Kangaroo Rat

Genus: Dipodomys - only one in in genus

herbivore

The habitat of the Kangaroo Rat differs depending on the 
area of North America that it lives.  They tend to live in 
arid, open areas and only go out at night when the 
temperatures are cooler

The habitat of the Kangaroo Rat differs depending on the 
area of North America that it lives.  They tend to live in 
arid, open areas and only go out at night when the 
temperatures are cooler.  

The kangaroo rat is almost perfectly adapted to life in the desert. They can survive without ever drinking any water, getting needed moisture from their seed diet. They have excellent hearing and can even detect the silent sound of an owl approaching. Their large back legs enable them to jump up to 9 feet (2.75m) in one jump in order to escape predators.

Meerkat

Genus: Suricata
Species: suricatta

Herbivore

Meerkats live in underground tunnel systems 
that they have either dug or inhabited from a previous 
animal.  Meerkats use these tunnels for protection 
against predators and will defend the burrows against 
other meerkat mobs...Meerkat warfare.

Approximate weight of a meerkat:
Average weight is 1.5 - 1.6 lbs.
Approximate size of a meerkat:
Average length is 10 - 14 inches not including the tail.  
The tail is 9 - 10 inches long.

Ostrich

Genus: Struthio
Species: camelus

Herbivore

The habitat of the Ostrich is the dry savannahs as well as
the open and desert areas of Africa.

Approximate weight of an Ostrich:
Approximately 200 - 250 lbs.
Approximate size of an Ostrich:
6 - 9 ft. in height.

Pronghorn

Genus: Antilocapra
Species: americana

Herbivore

The habitat of the Pronghorn is the deserts, grasslands 
and plains of the western United States, southwestern 
Canada and Mexico.

Approximate weight of a Pronghorn:
Average weight is 80 - 150 lbs.  Females typically weigh 
less than males.
Approximate length of a Pronghorn:
3.5 - 5 ft.
Approximate height at shoulder:
3 - 3.5 ft.

Sidewinder Rattlesnake
Genus: Crotalus

Species: cerastes

Carnivore

The Sidewinder can often be found buried in the sand of 

the desert or in animal burrows.  The Sidewinder will 
mostly be seen at night as it is primarily nocturnal.

Sonoran Desert Toad

Genus: Bufo
Species: alvarius

Bugs and insects 

The Sonoran Desert Toad will burrow underground, in 
abandoned rodent tunnels if available

Approximate size of a Sonoran Desert Toad:
4 - 7 inches.