The Namib, a desert miracle: fauna (1)

In the battle for survival many species have evolved to utilise the Namib's fog, the only regular source of moisture.

Most incredible of all are a number of the flightless tenebrionid beetles that have developed unique methods of harvesting the minute water droplets.

The "head-standing" species Onymacris unguicularis is diurnal, spending the nights under the dune sand, but as the heavier fog rolls in from the cold ocean during the early morning hours these beetles have to make their way laboriously to the top of the dune slipface.

Here they turn to face into the fog-laden wind, with the hindquarters raised so that the water droplets run down to the mouth.



Questa foto di Swakopmund è offerta da TripAdvisor.