Question

Which of the following adaptations is/are found in desert animals?

1. Long legs for avoiding excessive heat from sand

2. Nocturnal in habit

3. Aestivation during winter months.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : 1 and 2 only

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only

• Desert animals like Camel adapt in the following ways -
  • Long legs for avoiding excessive heat from sand. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  • Nocturnal in habit, i.e being active in the night. Nocturnal animals include kangaroo rats and other small desert rodents, skunks, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, and bats. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

• The drought evader animals adopt either a short annual life cycle that revolve around the scanty rains or undergo aestivation (e.g. ground squirrel).
  • During aestivation, the breathing, heartbeat and other body activities slowdown, this in turn decreases the need of water.
  • Many lay eggs that survive until the next rains when they hatch in the transient puddles and it happens in summer month. Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect.

• On the onset of rains, a variety of animal like grasshoppers, butterflies, bees, beetles, and spider’s and more may be seen in the desert ecosystem.
  • Amphibians like spade foot toad dig burrow with the help of its spade-like feet and goes to sleep till the rains arrive.
  • It can undergo aestivation for 8-10 months.
  • The birds make nest and reproduce during the rainy season when there is abundant food.
• The drought resistant animals are active and carry their normal function throughout the year.
  • They circumvent aridity and heat through morphological and physiological adaptations or by modifying their feeding and activity patterns.
  • They remain in cool, humid underground burrows during the day time and search for food only at night when temperatures are lower.