Location and climate

The desert biome is found on the western coast of South America and the south west coast of North America on the Western side of a map. The hot desert’s usual temperature is approximately above 90 degrees during the summer and an average of 60 degrees in the winter. The difference between the break of dawn and noon is normally 50 degrees. The average desert has less then 10 inches of rain fall a year. (University of Northern Alabama) The deserts in Southwestern U.S.A and Mexico have more even amounts of rain a year but still not very much at that.

Physical Features

The soil of a desert is very dry, rocky, and thin. The soils normally have great drainage and almost no water below the surface. The soil is not normally, chemically weathered down. The soil in a desert is also very heavy since the thin pieces are blown into other areas. Plants are usually short and water- conserving. The desert has mainly nocturnal carnivores. These include reptiles, birds, insects, and arachnids. (Berkley) Some deserts may be home to a variety of lizards, scorpions, and snakes. (Miller-Levine) Sagebrush and cacti are some of the most common plants that survive the very dry features of the desert. Only a few plants can survive these severe circumstances. (Miller-Levine)