Desert dwelling animals are called -

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Correct — B, Xericoles (xerocoles) animals. In ecology, animals are grouped by the habitat they are adapted to. 'Xerocole' (from Greek xeros = dry + Latin -cola = dweller) is the term for an animal adapted to live in a dry, desert environment — for example the camel, kangaroo rat and fennec fox. So desert-dwelling animals are called xericoles/xerocoles.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Arboreal animals are those adapted to live in trees (e.g. monkeys, sloths, many squirrels), not in deserts.  (c) 'Terrestrial' means land-dwelling in general (as opposed to aquatic or aerial); it is far too broad and does not specifically denote desert dwellers.  (d) Fossorial animals are burrowing/digging species that live underground (e.g. moles, badgers); the term describes a burrowing habit, not desert habitation.

Concept: Ecologists classify animals by their habitat and mode of life: arboreal (tree-dwelling), aquatic (water), fossorial (burrowing/underground), volant (flying), terrestrial (land) and xerocole (desert/arid-land dwelling). A xerocole is any animal specially adapted to survive in a desert, where water is scarce and temperatures are extreme.

State PCS 2023 Q121 — Environment & Ecology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q121 — Environment & Ecology PYQ with Answer