The plants and animals living in hot deserts have all developed ways of conserving or storing water cactuses and other succulent plants store water in swollen stems and leaves. Some cacti grow to a huge size and can live for 100 years or more. Other desert plants have tiny leaves that reduce water loss, and spines that protect the plant from grazing animals. Their roots may go down as far as 10 m to reach water.
Reptiles are common inhabitants of deserts because they are cold-blooded and need heat if they are to remain active. Most other desert animals are either small burrowing rodents, or birds and animals that hide from the Sun among bushes or rocks at the hottest times of the day.
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