May 6, 2025
Water is essential for most life, but some animals have adapted to survive days or even weeks without drinking water. Here are 10 animals that can go the distance.
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The camel is the most iconic water-storer. A camel can survive for up to two weeks without water, thanks to its fat-storing humps and water-conserving physiology.
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The kangaroo rat survives its entire life without drinking water. The kangaroo rat gets moisture from its food and produces highly concentrated urine to conserve fluids.
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The giraffe can go several days without water. A giraffe gets most of its hydration from leaves and can drink only once every few days.
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The desert tortoise stores water in its bladder. A desert tortoise can survive up to a year without access to fresh water by reabsorbing stored fluids.
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The sand gazelle can shrink its liver and heart to reduce water loss. A sand gazelle survives in extreme desert heat by relying on minimal water intake.
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The thorny devil absorbs water through its skin. A thorny devil can go long without drinking, drawing moisture from dew and sand into its mouth.
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The African elephant can last days without water during droughts. It uses its memory to locate distant water sources when needed.
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The addax antelope survives in some of the driest regions on Earth. An addax antelope gets moisture from desert plants and rarely drinks free-standing water.
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The koala gets nearly all its water from eucalyptus leaves. A koala can survive without drinking for long stretches if the leaves are juicy enough.
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Some penguin species survive long Antarctic trips without fresh water. A penguin filters salt from seawater through special glands, needing no separate water source for days.
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