Cacti are common desert plants that store water in their fleshy stems and can go months without rain.
Desert plants have adapted to survive in arid conditions by having small leaves or no leaves at all, thick waxy cuticles, deep roots, and storing water in their tissues.
The desert is the driest place on earth, with less than 250 mm (10 inches) of rainfall per year.
Desert animals have adaptations such as camels' humps, which contain fat instead of water to conserve energy during long periods of drought.
Animals living in the desert include camels, kangaroo rats, Gila monsters, scorpions, snakes, lizards, coyotes, jackrabbits, roadrunners, and birds such as sandgrouse and ostriches.
