The desert and tundra biomes receive about the same
amount of rainfall per year. Compare the other
characteristics of these two biomes.
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The desert and tundra biomes have very different temperatures as well as extremely different plants and animals. The desert can get very hot during the day, but cool off quickly at night. It has sandy soil and supports very little plant life. Animals found in the desert include lizards, javelinas, Gila monsters, coyotes, bobcats, scorpions, and kangaroo rats. The tundra is cold, dry, and often dark. The average temperature is about 10°F. The soil below the surface is permanently frozen, and is called permafrost. A few types of plants grow during the short summer season. Animals found in the tundra include caribou, foxes, wolves, and Arctic hares.