Home›Species›Ecosystem›Simpson DesertEcosystemSimpson DesertDesertReference and ClassificationVerifiedThe Simpson Desert spans about 176,500 square kilometers across the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia, the fourth largest desert in Australia. Its defining feature is a field of long, parallel sand dunes running north to south, ranging from about 3 meters high in the west to roughly 30 meters in the east, among the longest parallel dunes on Earth. Rainfall averages only about 150 millimeters a year and summer temperatures regularly exceed 50 degrees Celsius, yet the desert sits above the Great Artesian Basin, whose springs and bores have long supplied water to the region. The Wangkangurru Yarluyandi people, who call the desert Munga-Thirri, have lived in the area for thousands of years.FactsSimpson DesertConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClassificationBiogeographic RealmWell-attestedAustralasian 1Area (sq km)Well-attested176,500 2Simpson DesertFilter Results6 entriesCommon GroupAllHerons, Egrets And Allies (1)Penguins And Seabirds (1)Spiders (Araneae) (1)TaxonomyAllCanis (1)Dasyuridae (1)Diprotodontia (1)Pelecaniformes (1)Pelecanus (1)HabitatAllChaparral (1)Desert (4)Grassland (1)Lake (1)River (1)Salt Marsh (1)Wetlands (1)Xeric Shrubland (1)Conservation StatusAllLeast Concern (4)Not Evaluated (2)Everyday GroupAllHerons, Egrets And Allies (1)Penguins And Seabirds (1)Spiders (Araneae) (1)DietAllCarnivore (1)Detritivore or Scavenger (2)Herbivore (1)Insectivore (1)Parasitic (1)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (2)Marine (1)Terrestrial (6)Relationship to PeopleAllHunted or Fished (3)Venomous or Dangerous to Humans (1)Living or ExtinctAllYes (5)Where It LivesAllAfrica (1)Australasia (2)Australia (5)Australia (1)Belgium (2)Brazil (1)Colombia (1)Denmark (1)Ecuador (1)Japan (1)New Zealand (1)North America (1)Norway (3)Papua New Guinea (1)Poland (1)South America (1)South Asia (2)Spain (1)Sweden (1)Ukraine (1)United Kingdom (1)United States (1)Uruguay (1)Venezuela (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 6Australian pelicanSimpson DesertDingoSimpson DesertFat-tailed false antechinusSimpson DesertGreat EgretSimpson DesertRed KangarooSimpson DesertRedback SpiderSimpson DesertConnectionsDemonstratesDust Storm, Natural Phenomena Well-attested The long parallel dune fields of the Simpson Desert are a frequent source of dust storms that sweep across central Australia.Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Wildfire, Natural Phenomena Well-attested Source Encyclopaedia Britannicatier 1HostsAustralian pelican, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: DingoAdditional Source Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Dingo, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: DingoAdditional Source Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Fat-tailed false antechinus, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Pseudantechinus macdonnellensisGreat Egret, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: DingoAdditional Source Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Red Kangaroo, Species Well-attested Source Wikidata: DingoAdditional Source Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)Article texttier 2Redback Spider, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Redback spiderIn BiomeDesert, Biomes Well-attested Source World Wildlife FundIn the Other AtlasesFound InAustraliaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Wikipedia: Simpson Deserttier 2WikipediaIntroductionQuote, IntroductionThe Simpson Desert is a large area of dry, red sandy plain and dunes in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland in central Australia.View the Source2. Simpson Desert (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaLead section, rank among Australian deserts and area figureIt is the fourth-largest Australian desert, with an area of 176,500 km2 (68,100 sq mi).Hosts: Dingo, Article textEndemic mammals of the desert include the red kangaroo, dingo, echidna and kowari (Dasycercus byrnei), while birds include the grey grasswren (Amytornis barbatus) and Eyrean grasswren (Amytornis goyderi).Hosts: Red Kangaroo, Article textEndemic mammals of the desert include the red kangaroo, dingo, echidna and kowari (Dasycercus byrnei), while birds include the grey grasswren (Amytornis barbatus) and Eyrean grasswren (Amytornis goyderi).Hosts: Great Egret, Article textThe birds that use these wetlands include the freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa), musk duck (Biziura lobata), silver gull (Larus novaehollandiae), Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), great egret (Ardea alba), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), and banded stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus).Hosts: Australian pelican, Article textThe birds that use these wetlands include the freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa), musk duck (Biziura lobata), silver gull (Larus novaehollandiae), Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), great egret (Ardea alba), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), and banded stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus).View the SourceWorld Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife FundIn Biome: DesertView the SourceEncyclopaedia Britannicatier 1Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.Demonstrates: WildfireDemonstrates: Dust StormView the SourceWikipedia: Redback spiderHosts: Redback Spider, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Redback Spider, Distribution and habitatOutside urban areas, the redback is more often found in drier habitats ranging from sclerophyll forest to desert, even as harsh as the Simpson Desert.View the SourceAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Pseudantechinus macdonnellensisAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyHosts: Fat-tailed false antechinus, Geographic RangeQuote, Hosts: Fat-tailed false antechinus, Geographic RangeTheir eastern range extends to the western edge of the Simpson Desert in South Australia, and westward they occupy much of the Gibson Desert, the northern fringes of the Great Victoria Desert, and the southern and eastern outskirts of the Gibson Desert in Western Australia.View the SourceTake a Related QuizWetlands, Reefs and Deltas: New EcosystemsCovers this kind of entry.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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