Wildlife
Heat tolerant animals and plants have special adaptations for survival in hot places. Many animals try to avoid the heat by hiding away during the hottest parts of the day in burrows and dens. Others have physical adaptations that help body heat dissipate, such as large ears. To avoid being scorched, plants may turn their leaves away from the sun's glare. Small waxy leaves and the ability to close pores help other plants to reduce water loss.
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Thirst quencher
Namaqua sandgrouse use their breast feathers to collect water for their chicks.
Namaqua sandgrouse use their breast feathers to collect water for their chicks.
Egg-laying extremes
Crab plovers and flamingos can both cope in extreme conditions.
Crab plovers and flamingos can both cope in extreme conditions.
Super-heated life cycle
Colonies of algae and insects thrive on the minerals of hot springs.
Colonies of algae and insects thrive on the minerals of hot springs.
Big ears
Desert animals use blood capillaries in their ears to shed unwanted heat.
Desert animals use blood capillaries in their ears to shed unwanted heat.
Deep surprises
The planet's extremes confound the nature of life on earth.
Pompeii worms have been found to thrive at temperatures of up to 80°C around hydrothermal vents, making them the most heat-tolerant complex animal known to science after the tardigrades (or water bears), which are able to survive temperatures over 150°C. In this sequence, a specialised deep sea submersible allowed the audience a privileged view of the inaccessible deep ocean. Stunning images from this relatively unexplored world told the story of the scientific findings made in recent years that have changed the fundamental rules about the nature of life on Earth. (Courtesy of WHOI.)
Bactrian camel
Camels
Dromedary camel
Guanaco
Warthog
Water buffalo
Black-footed rock-wallaby
Red kangaroo
Human
African bush elephant
Stegosaurus
American crocodile
Nile crocodile
Siamese crocodile
Frilled lizard
Inland taipan
Labord's chameleon
Thorny devilOther Adapted to extremes behaviours
Habitats where this adaptation is useful
Take a trip through the natural world with our themed collections of video clips from the natural history archive.
Nature's record breakers
Animal kingdom record breakers - how fast can a cheetah run, how heavy is an elephant and what's bigger than a dinosaur? Watch amazing video clips from the BBC archive and uncover the fascinating facts about our smallest primate, the longest stick insect and the most venomous snake.
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Desert rose 
Saguaros 
Ostrich
Desert locust
Camel spiders