Desert and Dry-Savanna Environments

The Relations of Animals to Water

• Large body size is a physiological advantage in terms of water costs
• Coexisting species are diverse in their relations to drinking water
• Water conflicts threaten animals and people
• All species of large herbivores require considerable amounts of preformed water
• Water and food resources in the deserts and dry savannas are often complex

The Dramatic Adaptations of Particular Species

• Oryxes represent the pinnacle of desert survival
• Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles differ in their relations to water
• The sand gazelle is drinking-water-independent in hyperarid deserts
• The dromedary camel does not store water, but conserves it and tolerates profound dehydration