Some insects and a few rodents as well as the desert tortoise may dine on cacti. Insects, such as bees and butterflies, drink the nectar of the cactus flower. A number of insects are parasites on these cacti. The cactus family is one of the most easily recognized plant families in the world. A clump of prickly pear cactus is like a five-star restaurant to a number of small rodents that rely on it in their diets. Their beautiful blossoms, thick stems and unusual shapes attract thousands of people to the desert each year. Some of the animals that eat cactus include the pack rat, pocket mouse, Gila woodpecker and the long-nosed bat. 1. Pack rats eat Prickly Pear as well, and also avoid large spines, eating around them. The jackrabbit normally eats grasses, but it will eat … With their low water needs and resistance to many common pests and diseases, members of the cactus family can be exceptionally resilient. They may not all taste fabulous, but you can eat them and they are often good sources of water and nutrients. About the only cactus in the desert that is eaten by animals is the prickly pear cactus. Many small animals, such as bats and mice, eat cactus in the dessert. There are few animals in the desert that dine on cacti and they usually restrict the menu to the prickly pear cactus. Cacti (singular cactus) are a class of plants that grow in desert regions. Cactus Wrens will feed on ants, beetles, wasps and other insects. This plant’s leaves, roots, and stems have adapted to the desert to enable it to absorb, and conserve water. The plants are adapted to live in extremely dry desert climates, and store large quantities of water in their stems. Animals like camels, desert goats, the pronghorn and deers eat these plants in the desert. To injure animals that may be predators of the cactus, e.g. Cacti are home to desert animals, including many types of birds. But cactuses are not immune to damage, and some insects and animals will eat them. One of the first tips for finding foods in the desert for survival that you’ll be happy to hear is that all cactus fruits are edible. Animals have adapted to get water from the food they eat and to conserve what little they obtain. Many desert plants, like cacti in the Americas, are able to absorb and store water, letting them survive long periods of drought. The plants are adapted to live in extremely dry desert climates, and store large quantities of water in their stems. While it is the hottest of the deserts in the U.S., it contains much more plant life than the Sahara. In the United States, javelina and deer will eat prickly pear cacti. The Saguaro Cactus is one such example. Eating prey: some animals eat other animals in order to survive in the desert. Animals that can be found in the Sonoran include the Sonoran Desert Toad, the Desert Bighorn Sheep, the Cactus Wren, the Pronghorn Antelope and the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. One cactus — the Saguaro cactus — has a smooth and waxy skin that is covered with 2-inch spikes; the different areas providing sustenance for different animals. Even people enjoy eating cactuses: prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa) produces egg-shaped fruits with bright red edible pulp. Some desert habitats are short-lived—springing up to brighten the landscape only when the rains come. Reptiles eat cacti and their flowers. One of the more pleasant cacti to eat … Jackrabbits eat Prickly Pear cactus, and do so near the base where there are no large spines. Cactus, as a plant family, show variations between the individual species. They will also sometimes eat fruits and seeds. The collared peccary, a type of hog, eats the prickly pear cactus. The Cactus Wren needs very little water and can obtain much or all of its water from the food it eats. Many animals will eat Prickly Pear cactus fruit. try to eat it! If an animal goes to eat the cactus, it will spike them and they will not eat it again. How does a cactus manage to survive in a hostile desert climate? Prickly Pear Cactus. The Cactus Wren will turn over leaves and other objects on the ground to forage for food. The cactus plant survives in the desert by using the adaptation technique.

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