Beating the Heat

Let’s start with thorny dragons. These small lizards live in Australian deserts. Like all living things, they need water to survive. But very little rain falls in the desert. So how do thorny dragons get enough water?

“They collect it with their skin,” says scientist Philipp Comanns. 

Comanns and a team of scientists learned how this works. A thorny dragon’s skin has tiny grooves that lead to its mouth. When the lizard stands in sand, moisture from the sand is sucked into the grooves until they fill up. Then the lizard opens its mouth and takes a sip. Ahhhh! 

Let’s start with thorny dragons. These lizards live in Australian deserts. Like all living things, they need water to survive. But little rain falls in the desert. So how do thorny dragons get enough water? 

“They collect it with their skin,” says scientist Philipp Comanns.

Scientists learned how this works. A thorny dragon’s skin has tiny grooves that lead to its mouth. When the lizard stands in sand, moisture from the sand is sucked into the grooves. The grooves fill up. Then the lizard opens its mouth and takes a sip. Ahhhh! 

Fennec foxes also make their homes in the sizzling Sahara. These foxes are about the size of cats but have ears that are 6 inches long. When a fox gets too hot, it sends body heat out through its ears. 

The foxes also have thick fur on their paws. These “boots” help protect their feet from hot sand.

Fennec foxes also make their homes in the Sahara. These foxes are about the size of cats. But they have ears that are 6 inches long. When a fox gets too hot, it sends body heat out through its ears. 

The foxes also have thick fur on their paws. These “boots” protect their feet from hot sand.

Hippos live in parts of Africa too. They spend a lot of time standing in rivers and lakes. The sun’s rays can burn their backs. 

To protect their skin, the huge animals release a sticky red substance through their pores. This natural sunscreen helps to keep the hippos’ skin from burning. 

As you can see, physical adaptations can be very important. Without special skin, hair, or ears, many animals might not survive in the world’s hottest habitats. 

Hippos live in parts of Africa too. They spend a lot of time standing in rivers and lakes. The sun’s rays can burn their backs. 

To protect their skin, hippos release a sticky red substance through their pores. It is like a natural sunscreen. It helps to keep the hippos’ skin from burning. 

Physical adaptations can be very important. Without special skin, hair, or ears, many animals might not survive in hot habitats.