Desert Survivors: Life in the Extreme Heat
In Desert Survivors: Life in the Extreme Heat, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how animals like the golden mole, desert long-eared bat, and darkling beetle have adapted to survive life in the desert. From clever ways to gather water to unique hunting techniques, these creatures demonstrate the incredible resilience of life in the Namib and Negev deserts. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: How do desert animals find water in such dry environments?
A: Some animals, like the darkling beetle, collect water from fog on their bodies, while others, like golden moles, get moisture from their food.
Q: Why are many desert animals nocturnal?
A: Being active at night helps them avoid the intense heat of the day and conserve water.
Q: What makes the golden mole’s hunting strategy unique?
A: It "swims" through the sand to hunt insects, using vibrations to locate prey.
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In The World’s Deserts: Heating Up, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how Earth’s hottest temperatures have all been recorded in its deserts. The deserts are getting hotter more quickly than the global average. The shovel-snouted lizard adapts to the extreme heat by alternately lifting its feet from the hot ground, performing a kind of dance. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The World’s Deserts: Heating Up, narrator Sir David Attenborough explains how Earth’s hottest temperatures have all been recorded in its deserts. The deserts are getting hotter more quickly than the global average. The shovel-snouted lizard adapts to the extreme heat by alternately lifting its feet from the hot ground, performing a kind of dance. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.