In the world’s driest deserts and harshest climates, some animals have mastered the art of surviving without drinking water for months-even years. Their biology has adapted in fascinating ways to make the most of what little moisture is available.

The kangaroo rat, found in North America, never drinks water. It survives entirely on the moisture in dry seeds and produces almost no liquid waste. The fennec fox, native to the Sahara, absorbs water through its prey like insects and rodents and stays cool using its large ears.

The iconic camel stores fat in its hump, which can be broken down into water and energy during long desert journeys. The water-holding frog in Australia forms a moisture-trapping cocoon and hibernates underground for years until rain returns.

The thorny devil lizard absorbs water through its skin, channeling dew or rain straight to its mouth. Lastly, the Gila monster stores hydration in its tail fat to survive long, dry periods.

These creatures show how evolution enables survival in conditions where life seems impossible -nature’s true waterless warriors.