The Desert Biome
*Less than 15 inches of rain
annually.
*Generally has some types
of trees, shrubs, and
grasses.
*Vegetation adapts to
survive the dry season.
*May have a short rainy
season.
*Due to the classification of deserts being
areas that get less than 15 inches of rain,
we can see a great range in differences
between certain deserts.
*Tucson receives about 13 inches of rain a
year, classifying it as a desert biome, but
13 inches of rain is vastly different than a
desert such as the Sahara, which receives
3 inches or less of rain a year.
Deserts of Africa
*There are three deserts in Africa
including the Sahara, the
Kalahari, and the Namib.
*The Sahara stretches over
eleven Northern African
countries.
*The Kalahari is located in
Southern African countries
such as Botswana, South
Africa, Namibia, Angola, and
Zambia.
*The Namib is located along the
coastline of the Southeastern
African country of Namibia.
*The Sahara and the Kalahari deserts grow about 100 miles closer
to each other each year due to desertification and erosion.
The Kalahari Desert
*Yearly rainfall averages 5 inches.
*Latitude of 20-28 degrees South
*Elevation of 3,000 feet.
*Vegetation consists of dry
grasslands, and shrubby acacia
trees, which thrive during the
summer rainy season.
*Animals include hyenas, lions,
meerkats, many species of
antelope, and many types of
birds and reptiles.
The Sahara Desert
*Averages 3 inches of rain a year.
*35-15 degrees North latitude.
*1,000 square miles.
*Average elevation from 1,300-1,600 feet.
*Temperatures range daily from 130 degrees Fahrenheit
during the day and below freezing temperatures at
night.
*Most of the Sahara is sparse and not much vegetation
grows, except for some grasses and shrubs, which have
adapted to the high heat.
*The animal population of the Sahara is limited, but
includes gazelles, ostriches, and jackals.
The Namib Desert
*Unpredictable rainfall which ranges
from 5mm to 85 mm.
*About 23 degrees South latitude
*Elevation of 3,000 feet.
*64% of the Namib desert is
savannah, dry woodlands and
forests make up 20%, and desert
vegetation such as acacia trees
makes up 16% of the Namib.
*The animals in the Namib are mostly
made up of reptiles including the
web footed gecko, and other
animals that dwell in the Namib
include jackals, and elephants.
Deserts of Asia
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There are many deserts in Asia. Three of the most prominent deserts
include the Gobi, the Taklamakan, and the Karakum.
Gobi: Located in Northern parts of China and into Southern Mongolia.
Taklamakan: Located in Southeastern China.
Karakum: Located in Turkmenistan
The Gobi Desert
•Latitude is 40-50 degrees North.
•Considered a “rain shadow desert” due to the Himalayas blocking most of the
rain clouds from entering it.
•Average annual rainfall at only about 7.6 inches.
•Positioned on a plateau, giving it elevation ranging from about 3000-5000 ft.
above sea level.
•Due to this higher elevation it is often a cold desert, and it’s not uncommon
for there to be frost or even snow on its dunes.
•Vegetation is rare except for near riverbeds, where there are various shrubs
such as the saxaul, and other salt tolerant plants.
•Host to various animals including snow leapords, the highly endangered Gobi
Bear, and the wild camel.
The Taklamakan Desert
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Literally translates to “go in and
never come out” due to it’s
vastness and lack of water.
Sparse vegetation, besides in
depressions among sand dunes
where the groundwater is not as
deep from the surface. Here
thickets of tamarisks, nitre
bushes, and reeds can be found.
Sparse animal life as well, with
herds of gazelles found in open
spaces, and wild boars in river
valley thickets. Carnivores include
wolves and foxes.
Latitudes are from 55-60 degrees
N.
The Karakum Desert
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Occupies about 70 percent of the area
of Turkmenistan.
Varied vegetation, consisting of mainly
grass, small shrubs, bushes and trees.
The most common of the bushes being
the Astragalus, Calligonum, and
Saltwort. This vegetation is used as
hay in winter by camels, sheep, and
goats.
Animals species are greatly varied.
There are many insects including ants,
termites, beetles, spiders, and more.
There are also various lizards, snakes,
and turtles. There are many species of
birds as well, the most common being
the skylarks.
Annual rainfall varies from 2.75-6
inches.
North American Deserts
The Great Basin

The largest desert in
North America,
located primarily in
the northern threequarters of Nevada,
western and
southern Utah, to
the southern third of
Idaho and the
southeastern corner
of Oregon.
The Great Basin
Elevations of at least 3000ft but generally
higher in the 4000 to 6500ft range
 Precipitation of the area is 7 – 12 inches
annually

Great Basin Vegetation
Great Basin vegetation is low and
homogeneous, often with a single
dominant species of bush for miles.
 Sagebrush is the indicator species of this
desert.

Great Basin animals

There are many
animals in the great
basin including
bighorn sheep, kit
fox, coyote, skunk,
black-tailed
jackrabbit, ground
squirrels, kangaroo
rat and many
species of mice.
Mojave desert
The transition area from the hot Sonoran Desert
to the cooler and higher Great Basin is called the
Mojave Desert. This arid region of southeastern
California and portions of Nevada, Arizona and
Utah, occupies more than 25,000 square miles
and is located between 34 and 38°N latitudes.
 The Mojave is a rainshadow desert with elevations
between 3000 and 6000 feet, though Death Valley
national park includes the lowest point in the
united states, 282 feet below sea level at
Badwater.

Mojave Vegetation
The Mojave Desert has about 200 endemic
plant species found in neither of the
adjacent deserts. Prominent plants include
Desert Spanish Bayonet, a narrow leafed
yucca, Creosote bush and Blackbush.
 There are very few trees with a notable
exception in the Joshua-tree which is the
prime indicator of Mojave desert
vegetation.

Mojave Animals

The Mojave is
home to many
animals including
cougars, coyotes,
Gila monsters,
humming birds,
Tarantulas and
Mojave green
rattlesnakes to
name a few.
The Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is an arid region covering
120,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona and
southeastern California , as well as most of Baja
California and the western half of the state of
Sonora, Mexico.
 The Sonoran Desert is a subtropical desert
receiving most of its moisture during the Monsoon
season, but also gets a good amount of moisture
from the winter rains giving the Sonoran two
distinct and substantial rainy seasons.

The Sonoran and Mojave
Sonoran Animals and Vegetation

The Sonoran Desert includes 60 mammal
species, 350 bird species, 20 amphibian
species, 100+ reptile species, 30 native
fish species, and more than 2000 native
plant species. The Sonoran Desert is also
home to Jaguars and the Saguaro cactus.
The Chihuahuan Desert

The Chihuahuan is the second largest
desert in North America and lies primarily
in the Mexican states of Chihuahua,
Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi
with a small northern portion extending
into Arizona and New Mexico. Rainfall of
the Chihuahuan averages between 8 and
12 inches and is primarily in the summer.
The Chihuahuan desert
Chihuahuan Vegetation

The Chihuahuan desert is a shrub desert
with Tarbush being the dominant shrub.
Yuccas and Agaves, growing with grasses
and often Creosote Bushes, give this
desert its characteristic appearance.
Chihuahuan Animals

Animals of the
Chihuahuan desert
include the Kit fox,
Cactus Mouse,
Cactus Wren,
Greater Roadrunner,
and the Tiger
Salamander.