How Are Cactus's Adapted To Live In Their Habitat?

Cacti are adapted to living in desert and they can store lots of water. They have spikes to protect themselves from predators. Cacti are adapted to the desert as that is where they grow and therefore they need special features to live in that environment. Over time the cacti has adapted to hot, desert conditions which means that they can live in the desert without needing lots of water.

Cacti have to withstand very dry, hot and cold temperatures. This is how they do it:
• They do not lose much water through transpiration, because their leaves have shrunk to small spines or leaves; some have even disappeared altogether.
• Most cacti have a group of widely spread out shallow roots so that they can soak up the water quickly when it rains.
• The skin of the stem is waxy to reduce water loss.
• The prickly leaves on a cactus mean they cannot be eaten by animals.
• Lots of water is stored in the stem so that there is always a store when it is very dry.
• The inside of a cactus is either spongy or hollow, depending on the sort.