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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Australia's camels
Australia is now the only country where one-humped camels live naturally in the wild.
Australia's mulga country, or bush, is a dense woodland of acacias, ghost gums and bloodwoods, all rooted in the outwash of the Central Ranges. Most woody shrubs are thirsty and demanding but these tough plants have flourished despite the dry soil and some unwelcome invaders. In the 1880s, camel trains were the only way to cross the desert. But once roads were built, the camels were abandoned and are now feral. With no natural predators they have thrived here and Australia is now the only country where one-humped camels live in the wild. In the breeding season males do their best to mate with as many females as they can. They do this by frothing at the mouth and inflating their dewlaa - a sac on the roof of their mouth. It looks grotesque, but it is obviously attractive to the females and intimidates other males. When two bulls fight, it can get very serious as they use their necks to try wrestle each other to the ground. Over half a million camels now roam the Central Ranges and they are now considered serious pests.
Desert kings
Low energy lizards are virtually drought proof so there are millions of them in Australia's deserts.
The low-energy lifestyle of lizards means that they are very successful in the desert. They can survive on far less food and water than birds or mammals.
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.
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
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Desert rose 
Saguaros 
Ostrich
Saharan silver ant
Desert locust
Camel spiders