What Animals Live In The Sahara Desert?

The Sahara desert is 9.2 million square km of land, almost the size of the US, so you can expect that the ecosystem in the area is very diverse. In the region, you can find mammals, reptiles, avian species, and insects along with animals you generally find in the desert like goats and camels. We have a list of some animals that are specific to the Sahara Desert.

Saharan Silver Ant

The Saharan Silver Ant is a unique ant that is generally only found in the Sahara. One of the most unique thing about these ants is that they are only active for 10 minutes of the day. They have long legs and produce a heat shock protein which allows them to easily go out in the desert, protecting them from the heat.

Deathstalker Scorpion

The Deathstalker Scorpion is one of the most poisonous species of scorpion. It produces a heavy amount of neurotoxins that once injected into an adult human causes a lot of pain. If it strikes infants or children, they can possibly die from its bite.

Sand Viper

The Sand Viper isn’t too big in size, growing to about 25-35 cm in length. They are commonly found in the Sahara and their bite packs quite the punch. Most of it’s smaller prey die instantly after they are bitten by the viper. It usually feeds on smaller birds, lizards, and mammals.

Monitor Lizard

This is no simple lizard, the Monitor Lizard can grow up to 2 meters in length. They are carnivores and aren’t found during the winter season as they hibernate from September to April. They usually feed on fish, rodents, and birds.

Besides these animals, you will also find numerous bird in the Sahara like the Black-faced Firefinch, African Silverbill, and Red-necked Ostrich. Cheetah and Antelope are also commonly found in the Sahara. After all, the vast area of land is the home for a wide variety of animals.