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Desert animals in Morocco
Desert animals in Morocco. In Morocco, the animal life is as diverse as the surroundings, climate, and terrain. There are plants and trees in the Moroccan Sahara desert. animals that have evolved to survive in this particular habitat of rough terrain, little rain (100mm or less annually), summer temperatures exceeding 50°, and extremely cold winter nights. Animals specific to the Sahara desert environment were made an exception because to this untamed and distinctive Morocco. Some of these Moroccan desert animals are utterly untamed and in danger of going extinct. It’s not usually possible to see this distinctive desert fauna of Morocco.
There is a surprisingly rich Sahara desert flora that you can’t always see but still lives around the dunes of the Moroccan Sahara desert, such as in Erg Chebbi and Erg Chegaga dunes, in addition to the camels and dromedaries that are everywhere in the Sahara dunes, and probably it’s an opportunity to ride one during The Sahara desert tours in Morocco.
We think the best way to observe the wild animals in the Sahara desert is by walking or camel trekking. If you have decided to spend more time in the Sahara desert during your vacation in Morocco, sharpen your eyes and don’t hesitate to ask your guide to stop for you if there is an animal around.
Commonly accessible animals seen during a trip of the Moroccan desert :
Dromedar: Possibly the national animal of Morocco, also known as the camel with one hump, this amazing animal served as the primary mode of transportation in the desert for centuries. It is the best animal that can provide for the needs of the desert’s hash because it can survive without water for a few days. Nowadays, riding camels is one of the activities available during Morocco desert tours.
Beetles: Have you noticed any footprints in the sand? Mostly, it appears to be this little creature’s tracks, which it leaves all over the sand dunes. The biodiversity of the Sahara is abundant with beetles. Beetles are frequently seen in Moroccan dunes, regardless of the type of desert excursion you made to Erg Chebbi.
The spiny-tailed lizards of Morocco’s desert are also referred to by the scientific name Uromastyx. They are largely herbivorous but will occasionally consume insects and other small animals. Since they prefer to establish themselves on a mountainous, rocky place to bask in the sun throughout the spring and summer, uromastyx are simple to spot in the Sahara region.
Like many reptiles, this lizard‘s color changes depending on the temperature; in cool weather, it appears drab and dark; in warm weather, the color lightens (sometimes turning green or orange).
Observable animals are few, although some exist in the desert:
Desert fox is known as Qrchan in Amazigh. This adorable animal, which only moves at night and is found in numerous regions of Morocco’s Sahara desert, moves more at night, making it difficult to notice them. Morocco’s desert fox has a cream-colored coat that reflects sunlight. The fennec consumes insects, reptiles, and small animals while living underground.
Sandfish: sometimes referred to as sandfish Most desert natives refer to it as Tashershmant because to its extraordinary capacity to move inside the sand dunes in a swimming-like manner. Once you’ve been roaming in the sand for a while, it’s simple to see this small animal of the desert.
Desert Mice, sometimes referred to as Idwi locally, are one of the most common mice in the Moroccan sand dunes. They resemble miniature kangaroos and have long tails, small front legs, and long hind legs. These aren’t the only parallels between kangaroos and jarboas; they also hop and saltate when they move. They hide out in their burrows during the day and are most active at night. These are the kinds of creatures that trekkers frequently see in the southern Moroccan Chegaga Dunes and in Erg Chebbi.
Desert Hedgehog: A animal found in Morocco’s Sahara desert and regarded as the tiniest hedgehog at 140–280 cm (5,5 to 11 inches). Although road traffic is thought to be reducing the population of hedgehogs in some areas, they are not an internationally threatened species.
Up to 6 young can be born to a female hedgehog; they are born blind and with their quills hidden under their skin to protect the mother during birth. After birth, the quills appeared within a few hours, but it takes them around 20 days to open their eyes. The Saharan Hedgehog is an uncommon species found in the Sahara desert that only moves at night.
