![Picture](/uploads/2/1/0/4/21044052/912253.jpg)
The Greater Roadrunner is about 52–62 cm long and wingspan of 43–61 cm. THe average weight of a roadrunner is 221–538 g. The road runner originated from the Cuckoo family. Adult road runners have bushy crest's and a long, thick, dark bill. This bird is one of the most notable desert birds in North America. Roadrunners, are known for their preference for running over flying. Road Runners are capable of reaching speeds of up to 17 miles per hour. Roadrunners have adapted to their environment by dining on rattlesnakes. The Greater Roadrunner is found throughout the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and southern Great Basin Deserts, in all the southwestern united states and mexico. The combination of the harsh desert environment and the inability of the roadrunner to fly for extended periods of time have caused them to adapt to their new environment.
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/0/4/21044052/2141721.jpeg?203)
The Armadillo
Lizard is a light brown to
dark brown in color. The underbelly of the lizard is yellow
with a blackish pattern. Its average size can be anywhere between 16 to
21 cm in length. It grows up to a 12 cm snout in length. An adult armadillo lizard has such a strong bite force,
that could break their jaws. When the armadillo lizard gets frightened,
it rolls up into a tight ball to scare away predators. The lizard normally feeds on insects and spiders. These are the adaptations which the armadillo has taken on to adapt to its environment.
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/0/4/21044052/5242698.jpeg?206)
The Camel is in the Camelus family. It has one or two fatty deposits known as "humps" on its back. The two surviving species of camel are the dromedary, or one-humped camel and the Bactrian, or two-humped camel. The average life expectancy of a camel is 40 to 50 years. A full-grown adult camel stands 6 ft 1 in at the shoulder and 7 ft 1 in at the hump. Camels can run 65 km/h in short bursts and can sustain speeds of 40 km/h. The male camel has in its throat an organ called a dulla, which is a large inflatable sac. He extrudes this sac from his mouth when in rut to assert dominance.
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/0/4/21044052/5228527.jpeg?208)
Elephants are large mammals and come from the Elephantidae family. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia. Their are only two surviving elephants. Male African elephants can reach a height of 13 ft and a weight of 15,000 lbs. These animals have several distinctive features, including a long trunk used for for grasping objects. In addition they have tusks, which serve as tools for moving objects and digging. These tusks can also be used for fighting. The elephant's large ear flaps help to control the temperature of its body. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs. These are the adaptations the elephant has underwent to thrive in its desert ecosystem.
![Picture](/uploads/2/1/0/4/21044052/3005895.jpeg?213)
The Arizona Bark Scorpion, is a small light brown scorpion commonly found in the southwest United States and Northern Mexico. A adult male scorpion can reach 8 cm in length, while a female is slightly smaller, with a maximum length of 7 cm. The bark scorpion is nocturnal and likes to ambush its prey. The scorpion usually feeds on crickets, roaches and other small insects. The bark scorpion is particularly well adapted to the desert. Some of the adaptations scorpions possess are: layers of fat on its exoskeleton which make it resistant to water loss. As well as poison and claws to easily catch their prey.