science education resource

Namib Desert of Africa

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

The Namib Desert

Range

The Namib Desert rises from the southwestern coast of Africa.

Habitat Description

The Namib Desert is made up of giant white dunes. The rainfall every year is less than one inch. In many years, it doesn't rain at all. Instead, the little water on the Namib comes from the thick fogs that roll in off the ocean at night.

Animals Found in This Habitat

Insects and reptiles are the most common animals surviving on windblown seeds, plant particles, and each other. When fog rolls in, the head-stander beetle tips up on its head and collects the watery mist that rolls down its body into its mouth. Large mammals such as giraffes, elephants, lions, and jackals may roam into the riverbed oasis when there is a bit of water.

Plants Found in This Habitat

There is just enough mositure to keep some plants alive, like the strange welwitschia, whose leathery leaves are well-adapted to desert life.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

The Namib Desert

Use Teacher Login to show answer keys or other teacher-only items.

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Namib Desert of Africa" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. November 27, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Namib-Desert-of-Africa >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.