Why are some deserts home to salt-tolerant plants and animals?

Even harsh deserts can support specialized organisms that are adapted to extreme dryness, heat, and sometimes salty soils. Some plants, called halophytes, can tolerate high salt levels by excluding salt at the roots or storing it safely in tissues. Desert animals often avoid the heat, conserve water efficiently, or live underground. These adaptations let ecosystems persist in environments that would quickly dehydrate most species.