Who is eating whom in the desert? The food chain of the desert. Animal World of the Desert

The food chain makes it possible to study well the natural mechanisms in this or that area, as well as the animals that enter it. A long list of interconnected creatures can be made even in the desert, which seems not too populous at first sight. Going from a small spider to a boa constrictor is an interesting way to get acquainted with the laws of nature. So what can you say about each member of the food chain of the desert and who in general is included in it?

Spiders

The first link from which the food chain scheme begins is these small creatures. Spiders from the desert are interesting because many of them are incredibly poisonous. For example, it is in such conditions that the most dangerous species of these arthropods prefers to live. The six-eyed sand spider is unique not only with concentrated venom, but also with what appeared when South America and Africa were one continent - it can safely be called prehistoric. Two cases of attacks of these living fossils on humans are known, and both have resulted in a fatal outcome. However, do not be afraid of walking in the desert because of the six-eyed spider - he himself prefers to avoid people. The majority of his congeners are not at all dangerous - it's not for nothing that this squad is the first link in the chain of answers to the question: "Who is eating whom in the desert?" By the way, the scheme of this area is unique in its own way. Usually it includes both predators and herbivores, but there are so few plant foods in the desert that carnivores are much more common there. Therefore, this chain consists entirely of such creatures.

Centipedes

Studying who eats whom in the desert, it is necessary to pass from spiders to these beings. Millipedes easily survive in the desert and feed on small insects. In the world there are about fifty three thousand species of these arthropods, and several hundred of them live in hot sand. Survive in the heat of them helps the nightlife - in the daytime they hide in the ground. The body, consisting of many segments, on each of which is located on a pair of legs, allows you to move perfectly along the sand and occupy the second place in the food chain.

Scorpions

The centipedes follow the second link in the chain called Who's Who Eats in the Desert. Scorpions often become the killers of small arthropods, therefore they rightfully occupy the third place in the list. They are found only in hot countries, nevertheless, 1,750 different species are known to science. Toxic to humans are only fifty of them. Their unique feature is a long history: they are the oldest of terrestrial arthropods. Studying scorpions, one can learn a lot about the evolution of animals, trace their path of development from the marine life to the dry land. Like the centipedes, these desert animals, whose names are known to everyone, lead a nocturnal life, hiding in the sunny hours in the crevices of stones. To kill insects and arachnids they are helped by fast running and strong claws.

Lizards

Perhaps, when mentioning hot and dry regions, it is these desert animals that come first. Photo of lizards on the sand - one of the most popular associations with these edges. No wonder, because this is the largest group of reptiles. Real lizards are always quite small, up to forty centimeters in length. Desert species are distinguished by a special structure of paws with long fingers, equipped with lateral denticles, precisely because of them the animal does not fall into the sand. Another interesting feature is autotomy, or the ability to throw off the tail. He continues to move, distracting himself and giving the lizard enough time to escape from the enemy. Fast and agile creatures rightfully occupy the fourth place in the list, showing who eats in the desert, coping with insects, arthropods, and even scorpions.

Varans

These are quite large animals of the desert, photos of which can not fail to impress. Their dimensions can reach one and a half meters in length. Varans inhabit the deserts and foothills of Central Asia and Africa. Of all the others, they are distinguished by their slit-like nostrils, which are squinting at the eyes. So the monitor can examine the burrows without suffering from the sand that comes into the nose. He hunts in the afternoon, moving fast on his massive paws with powerful sharp claws. The strong tail is another weapon of the lizard. With a bite, the teeth of a giant lizard give off poisonous saliva, which can be dangerous even to humans. Therefore, the monitor is almost at the very top of the list, listing who is eating whom in the desert. He is able to kill not only smaller lizards, but also sand rats or birds, and also to eat their eggs. The falling ponds are not a hindrance, he can hunt in them. All this makes the lizard a dangerous predator for any small animal that can only be on its way in the desert.

Snakes

They close the food chain these sinister reptiles. Desert-dwelling species are often very poisonous and can be fatal not only for other inhabitants of the locality, but also for humans. Among the most dangerous is the Russell's viper, it can be seen in the dry areas of India, Pakistan and Thailand. This brown or cream-colored snake with a body surrounded by black spots does not exceed a meter and a half in length. In North Africa, you can meet another danger. It is a sand viper - a pink or yellow snake of very small size (up to sixty centimeters). She moves incredibly fast, which makes it even more dangerous. In American deserts, it is worth to be afraid of a diamond rattlesnake - olive-green with dark spots, length from one meter to one and a half, making hissing low sounds and roaring with the help of a tail. There is also a special view with a narrow habitat. It is the eponymous snake from the Mojave desert, which can attack without warning. She has a green body up to a meter in length. In Australia, it is worth to be afraid of the thorn-tail - a black or yellow snake with cross strips, attacking at the slightest danger. You can also meet her in China, but there this reptile is not so common. In the most famous Egyptian deserts there is a cobra of the same name, black or brown, which can reach impressive sizes - more than two meters in length.