Introducing the desert...

Animals of the deserts have developed special bodies and ways of life that enable them to survive in extreme heat. Many desert dwellers have light-colored skin, which helps keep them cool by reflecting sunlight. They come out to search for food when temperatures drop at night. Some animals estivate, or sleep, through the summer. Others may spend months or years underground, waiting for rain to create ponds. They then quickly feed and reproduce before the ponds dry again. All animals of the desert must drink water, which is often in short supply. They obtain water from plants, small ponds, and from the animals they eat.