Deserts are biomes that receive less than 250 millimetres of rain or other types of precipitation, such as snow, a year.
Deserts are not always hot and sandy places. There are deserts that are very cold, such as Antarctica. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth.
Other deserts can become very hot during the day but are freezing at night.
Plants and animals that live in a desert have to cope with these extreme conditions.
Many plants and animals have special features that help them to survive in the harsh environment.
Animals that live in a hot desert may get all their water from seeds and plants.
Many animals are nocturnal meaning they sleep during the day and come out in the cooler night to hunt and eat.
Some animals spend most of their time underground in burrows where it is a lot cooler.
Animals that live in the desert include: Armadillo, Lizard, Banded Gila Monster, Bobcat, Cactus Wren, Coyote, Desert Bighorn Sheep, Desert Kangaroo Rat, Desert Tortoise, Javelina, Cactus Ferruginoug, Pygmy Owl, Sonoran Desert Toad, Pronghorn Antelope, Thorny Devil