In the hot Namibian desert, it’s survival of the fittest--or the most cunning. In this video from National Geographic, we see how two different reptiles try to survival in the heat.
First we meet a shovel-snouted lizard. He survives in the desert by thermo-regulating his body, alternately lifting his feet in what is sometimes called a ‘thermal dance,’ allowing heat to escape through his feet. He also buries himself in the sand to protect himself from the sun.
Next we meet the Peringuey’s adder, a venomous viper found in Namibia and southern Angola. He cleverly drinks water droplets off his own skin.
The adder is also clever in its approach to catching prey. While the lizard goes on a wild chase to capture some tasty looking beetles scurrying nearby, the adder buries itself in the sand. The adder submerges itself in the sand until all that’s visible are his eyes and the top of his head.
The adder waits for his prey to come to him. As soon as the lizard wanders by--not even noticing the threat buried in the sand--the adder strikes!
Energy needs to be conserved as much as possible in the hot desert, and the adder gets the fight over with quickly.
He consumes the lizard head first, after seizing and envenomating it. This is the adder’s MO, as the serpent is known for its ambush techniques.
In the desert, where water is scarce, lizards are an important source of water for the adder, as lizards have a high water content. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW....
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