The birds usually will time a trip to a water hole to coincide with dawn and dusk when the birds of prey that could easily kill them are inactive. The desert bighorn sheep has a stomach featuring multiple chambers, like a cow, and this feature lets it digest dried grasses. The chuckwalla, when alarmed, will run into a rocky crevice and then wedge itself in the stones by inflating its body so it is difficult to pull out. The desert biomes of North America support a mixture of herbivores – animals that eat only plants. The desert biomes of North America support a mixture of herbivores. black chuckwalla image by Reisbegeleider.com from, "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians"; John L. Behler: 2008, "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mammals"; John O. Whitaker, Jr.; 2008.

John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. The chuckwalla may eat a few insects as a juvenile, but once it reaches one year of age, it eats nothing but plants. The chuckwalla is a member of the iguana family of lizards that exists in the American Southwest’s deserts. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years. The desert bighorn sheep is a subspecies of the bighorn sheep found further north in North America. Water from manmade sources enhances their habitats significantly. Herbivores in the desert include small mammals and large mammals, as well as some reptiles and birds. The desert tortoise can reach lengths of 14.5 inches. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. The diet includes desert wildflowers, leaves and fruits, with the chuckwalla obtaining its water from the vegetation it devours. These herbivores have the ability to exist in the desert mountain ranges, using their excellent vision to spot danger and their cloven hooves to scramble around on rocky ledges. In the summer, according to the Blue Planet Biomes site, this creature must drink about every third day. Desert Cottontail Rabbit Cottontails may compete for food with sympatric herbivores such as domestic livestock, deer, ground squirrels, hares, and various invertebrates. The desert tortoise will live where it has access to plants such as creosote bush, cacti and other thorny plants. ... Desert Animals - Desert Wildlife An herbivore is an animal that eats only plants and no meat. However, many herbivores will eat eggs and occasionally other animal protein. Herbivores in the desert include small and large mammals, and some reptiles and birds. The chuckwalla can grow as long as 16.5 inches, making it second in size among American lizards to only the Gila monster. The desert tortoise survives the heat of the desert summer by staying in an underground burrow when temperatures reach extreme levels during the day. The Gambel’s quail is a desert species that resides in the brushy regions of the desert, feeding upon berries, fruits, grasses, leaves, buds and seeds.

The Gambel’s quail has the pear shape of the typical quail, with gray colorings above and a brown-buff mix on the under parts. Herbivore definition: An animal that feeds exclusively on plants. The tortoise has a domed shell and stubby legs that call to mind an elephant. Their job of finding sufficient plant life and drinking water in the desert to support the appetites of herbivorous animals is not always easy. This group also includes granivores (animals that eat mainly seeds) and folivores (animals that eat mainly foliage). A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. This herbivore consumes grasses during the mornings and again in the late afternoons. Their job of finding sufficient plant life and drinking water in the desert to support the appetites of herbivorous animals is not always easy. Herbivores of the Deserts CAMEL ~ Ship of the Desert Habitat: deserts Size: 1.5-2m high at the hump; up to 726kg Adaptation: wide, padded feet enabling it to walk easily on soft sand Diet: grass, dates, wheat & oats Predator(s): tiger & man Extra: camels move both legs on one side of the body at the same time The chuckwalla has a potbellied appearance and loose folds of skin about the shoulders and neck. Desert Wildlife Herbivores. An herbivore is an animal that eats only plants and no meat. The menu of this large mammal also includes forbs, sedges and the leaves of bushes and shrubs. The Gambel’s quail is a target for raptors such as hawks and falcons in its desert home, so coming into open areas to drink becomes problematic. In winter, this reptile will hibernate, with many doing so as early as September. About the desert Flora and Fauna Food Chain Roles of the organisms (Producers, Consumers and Decomposers) Animals that are Herbivores,Omnivores and Carnivores in the desert Animal Adaptations Human Impact to the desert How has the desert changed over time Bibliography