In a desert, you will find both a rattlesnake and cactus living in the harsh climate with very little rain. A cactus uses its thick skin of the stem with spines to keep unwanted animals from getting to the water that they store away. It uses its large underground root system to find water deep underground even when the topsoil is dry. The cactus also uses its thick stem to hold water to keep it alive. Rattlesnakes are also living things that live in the harsh environment of a desert. One way they protect themselves is by using the rattle to ward off predators. They can live in the desert because they do not waste water through urinating. They also have a great sense of smell and taste allowing them to detect water far away. Both