Located in eastern California, Death Valley typically conjures up images of an impossibly hot, lonely desert, punctuated only by random tumbleweeds and a weathered skull of some unfortunate beast. However, within this extreme environment lies an entire community of living, thriving plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh conditions of the climate. Let’s take a look at just five outstanding animal species of Death Valley.
1. Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert bighorn sheep are one of those animals that when you see them in the wild, the whole world seems to stop around you as you become aware of their presence. These sheep have the same concave, elastic hooves allow them to traverse steep, rocky terrain as their mountain cousins. However, this subspecies can go for weeks (sometimes months) without drinking water. They draw moisture from the plants they consume and rocks where water pools temporarily after rain. Desert bighorn sheep have been known to lose up to 30 percent of their bodyweight and survive. They’re capable of outlasting any potential predators during times of extreme heat and drought.
2. Desert Cottontail Rabbit
Desert cottontail rabbits are a common denizen of the desert, capitalizing on the habitat and food source the local brush, small trees, and grasses provide. This is also where the secret of its hydration lies, as the desert cottontail rarely drinks water. The large ears of the desert cottontail are its greatest asset. Their size and shape allow it to hear predators from a distance. This forager is rarely out in midday, preferring the cooler temperatures of early morning and late afternoon. It will also avoid coming out into the open on windy days, as wind distorts the sounds made by lurking predators.
3. Roadrunner
Not just a cartoon bird of the same name, the roadrunner is one of the most interesting animal species of Death Valley. This peculiar bird measures two feet in length at most and weighs less than a pound. It has long legs and strong feet that allow it to reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour on open terrain. Roadrunners can lower their body temperature to conserve energy during cold, crisp desert nights. They can also expose dark patches of skin on their back to the sun to turn up the heat again.
4. Mojave Fringe-Toed Lizard
The Mojave fringe-toed lizard is an apt resident of Death Valley, with specialized fringes on its toes that allow it to traverse the hot, fine sand without sinking down. It also has overlapping eyelids, a countersunk lower jaw, and flaps over the nostrils, ears, and nasal passages that prevent sand from entering the lizard’s lungs and sensitive tissues. This animal species of Death Valley can retreat from sweltering daytime temperatures by burying itself in the sand, scraping lower and lower for the cooler sands untouched by the desert sun.
5. Kit Fox
Desert life is tough for warm-blooded mammals, but those who can bide their time until the sun dips below the horizon are rewarded with abundant prey. A nocturnal animal species of Death Valley, the kit fox feeds on all manner of creatures. It eats anything from mammals to amphibians to reptiles to fish, and will occasionally scavenge when prey sources are scarce. The dwindling population of the grey wolf has left the kit fox vulnerable to predation by an overpopulation of coyotes. This is a direct effect of an unbalanced ecosystem.
Photo from Max Allen/Shutter Stock
