Plants in the Sahara Desert
The plant life in this area is very limited due to the extremely hot and dry climate and the limited precipitation. Few plants can survive in this climate. The plants that do grow here are unique. Here are just 7 of the plants that you will see if you do decide to visit the world's largest desert, the Sahara.
The first plant on my list is the African Peyote Cactus. This plant is a part of the Cataceae family and can grow up to 7 centimeters long. It is able to live here because it can retain water for long periods of time. It is also believed that this plant is used in the rituals of the local tribes.
The first plant on my list is the African Peyote Cactus. This plant is a part of the Cataceae family and can grow up to 7 centimeters long. It is able to live here because it can retain water for long periods of time. It is also believed that this plant is used in the rituals of the local tribes.
The second plant to enter my list is not a plant but a tree known as the Red Acacia. It is a thorny tree with a reddish bark covering the tree. The tree has feathery leaves to protect the tree from harsh winds the desert can have. The tree also has two thorn-like projections at the base of the leaves. This is not a plant you want to mess with!
Another plant that is present in the Sahara desert is the Common Fig. The common fig is a limited plant that can grow in rough terrain and can last through droughts. A fig tree's reproduction relies heavily on the pollination that is carried out by certain species of wasps. If these wasps do not carry out pollination would no longer exist in this region.
The fourth plant on my list that lives in the Sahara is the Doum Palm. The doum palm is located along the Nile River. The tree is used for many things like fruit, creating paper, and as an ingredient in several foods. The doum palm fruit is used to make molasses, sweetmeat, and cake.
Another plant that is found in the desert biome is thyme. This is a drought-resistant plant which means it is able to survive in this arid region that has very low rainfall and often experiences droughts. This plant is the main food source for the animals in the Sahara and it is used in many cuisines in Africa and the Middle East.
Making it to the top seven plants on my list is the olive tree.This is also a tree that lives close to the Nile and can be found in the few desert oases.It is very important plant because you can extract get oil from it. The oil you get from the tree is most likely used for cooking.
The final plant on my list of "must-see" plants that are present in the Sahara Desert is the Oleander.This plant is an evergreen shrub which stays green all year round. It can be found all over the Sahara and it has sporadic growth. It likes the dry arid climate and the shrub bears flowers.
Animals that live in the Sahara Desert
The Sahara has many animals inhabiting it even with the harsh conditions. There are believed to be 70 species of mammal, 90 species of bird, and roughly 100 species of reptiles. There are too many species to describe so here are the top seven must-see animals. Remember don't feed them and they won't feed on you!
#1. Saharan Horned Viper: This animal can be found in the desert land from Northern Africa into the Middle East. It is the most abundant and easily identified of the venomous snakes because of its horns. This snake has played a mystical role in Egyptian history and has been mummified and found on the banks of the Nile. The vipers like to bury themselves in sand to keep themselves cool so watch your step when your traveling in the sand.
#1. Saharan Horned Viper: This animal can be found in the desert land from Northern Africa into the Middle East. It is the most abundant and easily identified of the venomous snakes because of its horns. This snake has played a mystical role in Egyptian history and has been mummified and found on the banks of the Nile. The vipers like to bury themselves in sand to keep themselves cool so watch your step when your traveling in the sand.
#2 African Wild Dog: You can find this animal all around the middle and southern regions of the Sahara. They like to run in packs so they are seldom spotted alone. The African Wild Dog is a very tenacious hunter and it is built for stamina. So do not think you can out run these bad boys because they can easily catch you. These animals are successful predators because they are very fast and they can run fast for long periods of time. Here is a picture of these animals looking for their next meal.
#3 Addax Antelope: This animal is classified as endangered and it is believed that there are only about 500 left. They are endangered because they are hunted by man and animal for their meat and leather. Another reason that they are a dying breed is because they are pretty slow which makes it harder to run away from predators.
#4 Deathstalker Scorpion: These critters have two pincers they use to kill their prey. A large pincer that hurts the opponent and a smaller one that releases toxins. The smaller one is the deadlier one of the two. The scorpion would not kill an adult but it would hurt a lot. It is able to kill children and elderly people. So make sure you watch your children and keep them away from these deadly creatures.
#5 Saharan Cheetah: Like the Addax Antelope, this animal is becoming extinct. There are approximately 250 living Saharan Cheetahs today in the desert. These cheetahs like to hunt in the dark more often than regular cheetah and they have adapted to the harsh climates of the desert. Better sleep with one eye open.
#6 Dromedary Camel: This is the only type of camel that lives in this area and they only have one hump.These camels can store water in their humps and they can drink 100 liters in 10 minutes. They can live in these conditions because they can go a long time without food or water.
#7 Dorcas Gazelle: This animal eats leaves from trees and bushes in the desert. The Dorcas Gazelle does a “Stotting” which is a jump that scares the predators away when they are too close. Also, these gazelles are very fast so they are very hard to catch.