Download App

Organisms and Populations — BIOLOGY STD 12 Science — Question

Maharashtra BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 ScienceBIOLOGYOrganisms and Populations3 Marks
Question
Write a short note on Adaptations of desert animals.
✓

Answer

  1. Animals which are well-adapted to live in deserts are called xerocoles. These animals show adaptations for water conservation or heat tolerance.
  2. These animals show low basal metabolic rate. They obtain moisture from succulent plants and rarely drink water. E.g Gazella and Oryx.
  3. Desert animals like camel produce concentrated urine and dry dung.
  4. Many other hot desert animals are nocturnal, seeking out shade during the day or dwelling underground in burrows.
  5. Smaller animals from desert, emerge from their burrows at night.
  6. Mammals living in cold deserts have developed greater insulation through warmer body fur and insulating layers of fat beneath the skin.
  7. Few adaptations to desert life are unable to cool themselves by sweating so they shelter during the heat of the day. Many desert reptiles are ambush predators and often bury themselves in the sand, waiting for prey to come within range.
  8. Other animals have bodies designed to save water. Scorpions and wolf spiders have a thick outer covering which reduces moisture loss. The kidneys of desert animals concentrate urine, so that they excrete less water.

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free

Explore more

More "Answer the following questions in detail." from Organisms and Populations→Organisms and Populations — all question types→BIOLOGY STD 12 Science question papers→Maharashtra Board STD 12 Science question papers→Maharashtra Board question paper generator→

Similar questions

Name the methods employed in animal breeding. According to you which of the methods is best? Why?
→
By the end of 2002 the public transport of Delhi switched over to a new fuel. Name the fuel. Why is this fuel considered better? Explain.
→
What is 'predation'? Explain with the help of suitable examples why is it required in a community with rich biodiversity.
→
What is an endangered species? Give an example of an endangered plant and animal species each?
→
Sr. No.HormoneExampleFunction
(1)...............IAACell elongation
(2)AuxinIBA..................
(3)Stress hormone................Delay cell division
(4)...............ZeatinCell division
(5)Abscissic acidABA...................
(6)Auxin.................Flowering in Pineapple

options: Antitranspirant, Ethylene, Auxin, ABA, Apical dominance, Gibberllins, Cytokinin, NAA.

→
How is biodiversity important for ecosystem functioning?
→
What is pregnancy hormone? Why is it so called? Name two sources of this hormone in a human female.
→
Sketch and label reflex arc.
→
Enlist the steps involved in inbreeding of cattle. Suggest two disadvantages of this practice.
→
What are the three major phases in the life cycle of an organism? Define each phase.
OR
Discuss the similarities in pattern of sexual reproduction.
→