The desert shrubs known as mulgas are related to eucalyptus trees. Like most desert plants, they need little water. Their life spans can reach 200 to 300 years if the plants are not disturbed or damaged. Mulgas have adapted to dry conditions by developing thick-skinned, needle-like leaves that prevent water loss. Mulgas can also drop their foliage during dry periods to make mulch and recycle nutrients. Hearty as they are, mulgas don't resprout easily after fires. Mulgas produce small yellow flowers in three or four cycles per year.
The mouse-like bilby has elongated, pointed ears. They once lived in all the Australian inland deserts, but now only small communities remain in the Gibson, Tanami and Great Sandy deserts. Bilbies burrow to avoid the heat of the day and forage at night. They have adapted so well to little water that they get all the water they need from food, which consists of insects, fungi, seeds and bulbs.
Porcupine Grass thrives in the desert because it lives in soil low in moisture and nutrients. Porcupine Grass has an ingenious way of surviving--its roots can dig into the ground up to 30 feet. Hard, spiky leaves tightly rolled make it difficult for people to handle Porcupine Grass without special equipment. The tight, waxy leaves minimize water loss by reducing exposure to the sun.
The red kangaroo, one of Australia's best-known animals, inhabits the driest parts of the continent. In fact, it developed its famous hop from needing to cross large amounts of ground quickly to find food and water. When not foraging, kangaroos handle the heat efficiently: They rest and do nothing.
