The document discusses adaptations that allow animals to survive in desert habitats. It describes several physical adaptations of camels, such as their ability to run fast, store water, and have thick fur and large feet to cope with the desert environment. These adaptations help camels travel long distances, stay hydrated with scarce water resources, and regulate their body temperature in the hot desert conditions.

1. Friday 18th June 2021
Desert adaptations
A habitat is…
a. Something that a person is
addicted to doing. E.g smoking
b. A place where an animal lives.
c. How an animal looks.
A desert habitat is…
a. Cold, dry and arid.
b. Hot, arid and empty.
c. Warm, wet and empty.
A desert has…
a. Animals and plants such as
meerkats, Cacti and scorpions.
b. No animals or plants.
c. Animals such as Monkeys and
camels.
Which statement is true?
a. There are hardly any deserts
in the world.
b. The arctic and Antarctic are
classed as deserts.
c. It is always red hot in deserts

2. KEYWORD ALERT!
Adaptation
In science this means how an
animal suits its habitat.
For example
An orangutan lives in a rainforest with lots of
trees to climb. It is suited to that environment
because it has long arms to reach for trees and
swing.

3. A habitat is a place where
something lives.
There are many different types of habitats:
hot or cold
big or small
on land or in water
Name 5
different
habitats.
For
example:
A desert.
Name 2
animals that
live in one of
the habitats
you have
mentioned
STRETCH:
Name some of
the features of
the habitat you
have named.
(e.g mountains, rivers,
trees, plants, sand,
mud, water, coral,
houses)

4. Learning Objectives:
-State some adaptations of an animal from a desert environment.
-Describe some adaptations of an animal from a desert environment.
-Explain how these adaptations are important for surviving a desert
habitat.

5. Adaptations of a Camel
Can run up to 40mph in a sprint, or maintain
25mph for up to an hour.
Can consume up to 46 litres of
water in one sitting.
Three rows of
eyelashes.
Large, flat
feet.
Thick fur on the top of
their bodies; thin fur
elsewhere.
Thin, slot-like
nostrils.
LO: State some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

6. Three rows of
eyelashes.
Protection from
sandstorms/strong
winds.
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

7. Thin, slot-like
nostrils.
Prevents sand from
entering the body and
damaging the lungs. It
protects the breathing
of the camel
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

8. Can consume up to
46 litres of water
in one sitting.
Water is scarce and this allows
them to hydrate and replenish
stored water quickly.
This water gets stored as fat in
the camels hump.
Replenish means to fill
something up again.

9. Thick fur on the
top of their
bodies; thin fur
elsewhere.
Thick fur provides shade, stopping
the camel getting sunburn and thin
fur stops the camel over heating.
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

10. Can run up to 40mph in a
sprint, or maintain 25mph for
up to an hour.
To travel quickly across the desert over long
distances and to allow air to circulate underneath
their stomachs to cool them down.
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

11. Large, flat feet.
Spreads weight on soft sand so
they don’t sink in.
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

12. Camel Adaptations
Adaptation What’s the Point?
Can run up to 40mph in a
sprint, or maintain 25mph
for up to an hour.
To travel quickly across the desert over long
distances and to allow air to circulate
underneath their stomachs to cool them down.
Can consume up to 46
litres of water in one
sitting.
Water is scarce and this allows them to
hydrate and replenish stored water quickly.
Three rows of eyelashes. Protection from sandstorms/strong winds.
Large, flat feet. Spreads weight on soft sand.
Thick fur on the top of
their bodies; thin fur
elsewhere.
Thick fur provides shade, thin fur aids heat
loss.
Thin, slot-like nostrils. Prevents sand from entering the body and
damaging breathing.
LO: Describe some adaptations of an
animal from a desert environment

13. Desert plants
Cacti are also well adapted for survival in the
desert. Their adaptations include:
•stems that can store water
•widespread root systems that can collect
water from a large area
In addition, cacti have spines instead of leaves.
These minimise the surface area and so reduce
water loss. The spines also protect the cacti
from animals that might eat them.

14. Match up the camel adaptation to how it helps.
Write them in full sentences.
STRETCH: Explain how two of the adaptations help camel to
survive. What might happen if they didn’t have this adaptation?
Example:
WAGOLL
Camels have
large flat feet to
help spread their
weight on the
soft sand.
Sentence starters:
Camels have…
This helps
because…

15. Mammal Reptile Bird
Write the three subtitles and organise the animals into the right animal group.
Lion
Human
Eagle
Penguin
Chicken
Lizard Crocodile Snake
Elephant
cow
Alligator
Emu
Meerkat

16. Mammal Reptile Bird
Write the three subtitles and organise the animals into the right animal group.
Lion
Human
Eagle
Penguin
Chicken
Lizard
Crocodile
Snake
Elephant
cow Alligator
Emu
Meerkat