Australia's five major deserts -- the Great Victorian, Great Sandy, Gibson and Tamari in the western regions of the continent and the central Simpson Desert -- together encompass almost 20 percent of the continent's land. These hot, dry regions receive less than 20 inches of annual rainfall, which means that plants and animals must be highly specialized to survive. Even though they might appear inhospitable, Australia's deserts are home to a range of flora and fauna.


Most tree growth in the Australian desert -- up to two-thirds -- takes place under the soil. Instead of growing upward, desert trees focus their growth into deep, water-seeking root systems. The wattles, also known as acacias, are one of the most common trees native to Australian deserts. These hardy trees grow in a range of shapes and sizes, but all display modified stem structures, or phyllodes, instead of leaves; they produce hard-coated seed pods that require scarification to germinate. Native species include the dead finish (Acacia tetragonophylla), which grows to 16 feet tall and has medicinally valuable bark and the Wallangarra wattle (A. adunca), which grows to 20 feet tall and produces bright yellow flowers. Other common desert trees include gums, or eucalyptus, trees. Many gums display adaptations such as modified trunks that allow regrowth after a severe drought or waxy, powdery bark that deflects heat.


Australian desert shrubs display modifications that allow them to thrive under arid conditions. Wattles also grow as shrubs, such as the Western coastal wattle (A. cyclops) and the prickly Moses (A. verticullata). These acacias produce seeds with bright red stalks attached, which attract birds that ingest the seeds and aid in their dispersal. Other shrub species include the old man or Australian saltbush (Atriplex semibaccata), a woody perennial that spreads to 9 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The shrub's gray-blue foliage deflects heat, and its red berries attract wildlife.

Other Plants

Several other species of plants thrive in Australia's deserts. Sturt's desert pea (Swainsona formosa), the emblem of southern Australia, grows as a creeping vine with pinnate, hairy, gray-green foliage. It produces clusters of 3-inch flowers surrounding glossy, black seeds that, like wattle seeds, require scarification to germinate. The native fuchsia (Eremophila latrobei) blooms with red, tubular flowers and can regrow from dead-looking branches once a drought breaks. Cloak ferns (Chielanthes spp.) are known as "resurrection plants" as they die during periods of drought but "resurrect" after a rainfall.


Due to the harsh conditions in Australian deserts, most indigenous mammal species are small and subsist on little moisture. The spinifex hopping mouse (Notomys alexis) gets all the moisture it needs from its diet of shoots, roots and insects. This tiny rodent lives in warrens under the desert sand. The white-striped mastiff bat (Talarida australis) is named for the large white stripe that crosses under its wings. This insect-eater usually nests in hollow trees. One of the more unusual desert mammals is the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). This toothless, spiny create digs for termites and ants with its huge claws. One of the three egg-laying mammal species, this echidna lays soft-shelled eggs directly into its pouch, where they hatch after only 10 days.

Birds and Reptiles

Australia's deserts are home to a variety of birds, including the mulga parrot (Psephotus varius), a small, colorful bird that forages for seeds on the ground. The singing honeyeater (Lichenostomus virescens) lives on nectar and flying insects. The Australian kestrel (Falco cenchroides) hunts for its prey, which includes lizards, insects and small mammals, by hovering and then swooping down. The deserts provide habitat for many reptiles, such as the pygmy monitor lizard (Varanus eremius), a small red lizard that preys on other lizards. The thorny devil (Moloch horridus) is named for the spined yellow and brown scales that protrude from every part of its body.

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