Mammals
Desert Mammals
Written by Sarah J. Keller
Copyright 2001
Isaveatree.com
ISBN 0-9714299-0-1 (50 Book Set)
Table Of Contents
Deserts………………………………….4
Antelope squirrel………………….…..6
Foxes…………………………………..12
Rabbits………………………………...18
Glossary……………………………….24
Index………………………………..…25
Books to read and web sites to visit…26
2.
Deserts get very little
rain. Some deserts are
hot during the day and
icy cold at night.
Desert mammals are
able to find enough
food, water, and shelter
to make safe homes for
their families.
4.
A White-tailed
Antelope Squirrel
lives in the desert. It is
a ground squirrel with
white side stripes. It is
brown in summer and
gray in winter. This
small squirrel is only 5
to 6 inches long.
6.
A Pocket Gopher lives
underground in the
desert. It matches the
color of the soil. A
pocket gopher has two
pockets in its cheeks to
store food as it tunnels
along. When it gets to
its nest, it empties its
cheek pockets.
8.
Kangaroo Rats look
like little kangaroos.
They hop about on
long legs and use their
tail for balance.
Kangaroo rats build
underground tunnels
and nests with small
doors. They can plug
up the doors to keep
out cold and enemies.
10.
A Kit Fox is a small
desert mammal. Its
body is less than 2 feet
long and it has a
bushy tail. It is very
fast and smart. It eats
small animals as well
as fruits and insects.
12.
A Ringtail is a fox like
desert animal that
looks like a raccoon. It
has big brown eyes
and a long bushy
black-banded tail. A
Ringtail is a nocturnal
animal, which means
it hunts at night and
sleeps during the day.
14.
A Collared Peccary is
a small pig with
bristly hair in a salt
and pepper pattern. It
can be up to 3 feet
long and weigh 65
pounds. The Collared
Peccary is also called
the Javelina. It eats
prickly pear cactus,
grass, seeds, and nuts.
16.
A Desert Cottontail is
a small brown rabbit
with a white belly and
large ears. It is mainly
out at night looking
for food and trying to
keep its many babies
from harm. Desert
Owls enjoy baby
cottontails for dinner!
18.
A Grasshopper Mouse
also lives in the desert.
It has a small body
with a short thick tail.
Its fur blends in with
the desert sand so the
larger animals can't see
it. A Grasshopper
mouse can move very
quickly and hide under
the desert brush.
20.
These animals manage
to live well in the
harsh desert land.
They learn how to find
food and water from
their mothers. They
also learn how to stay
safe from enemies.
22.
Glossary
Index
Bristly hair – short stiff hair
Collared Peccary, 16
Desert – very dry land covered with sand and
almost no plants
Desert Cottontail, 18
Enemy – someone or something that could
hurt you
deserts, 4
Grasshopper Mouse, 20
Harsh – unpleasant and unkind
Javelina, 16
Mammal – warm blooded animal with hair
or fur that feeds its babies milk
Kangaroo Rats, 10
Kit Fox, 12
Nocturnal – active at night instead of day
Pocket Gopher, 8
Tunnels – digs along under the ground
Ringtail, 14
White-tailed Antelope squirrel, 6
24.
25.
More Great Books To Read
Title: What is a Mammal?
Author: Robert Snedden
Publisher: Sierra Club Books for Children
Copyright: 1993
Title: Mammals
Author: Jay Richardson
Publisher: F. Watts
Copyright: 1993
Title: Mammals
Author: Barbara M. Brownell
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Copyright: 1993
Websites
Link 1
26.
Credits
Sarah Keller – Author
Douglas Meyers- Technology Director
Dan Mader- Art Director / Illustrator
Robert Rance - Photo Selections
Robert Rance - Audio Engineering
Robert Rance – Research & Development
Photo Credits
Some images in collection 1 (50 book set)
www.arttoday.com
I save a tree reserves the right to change photos at
any time