Desert -- Amphibians and Reptiles in the Desert
| Reptiles possess scaly
skin to conserve moisture. They can control their body temperature by gaining or losing
heat from surroundings. By using external heat, they do not need as much energy as the
birds and mammals. Hence they need less food and breathe at a lower rate, which help them
to conserve moisture.
The skins of the amphibians are soft and moist. This property allows the skin to respire and absorb oxygen from air and water. It seems unlikely that they can be found in deserts. Though, some frogs and toads manage to survive in the arid area. They must complete their life cycles before the wetlands evaporate after the rain, for their eggs have to develop in lakes or pools. |
Trips to:
Learn More! |
© Copyright
1999, ThinkQuest team 26634 |