The wide prairies of the steppe are the kingdom of large herbivores which often migrate far away in search of new pastures. Because of the lack of hiding places and the need to migrate, many herbivores of the steppe have grown to a huge size, have exceptionally adjusted to running and have very sharp senses. The typical herbivores of the steppe are: the European and North-American bison, the horse, native to Asian steppes, the pronghorn that lives in North-American prairies, and the guanaco , relative to camels and living in the Argentine steppes. Along with the guanaco, the pampas deer, a small cervid of the same size as a roe deer, also lives in south American pampas. So, what animals live on steppes? There are many species that have evolved and adapted to the climate and vegetation of the steppes in different continents around the world. Each of them is found in a specific steppe or region of the steppe. AnimalWised brings you a list of 10 unique steppe animals, their characteristics and other fun facts about them. Saiga A small antelope with a big nose, the saiga is about the size of a german shepherd. Its unique nose is surprisingly similar to that of the whale; males use their noses to make roaring sounds to attract mates. Saigas can also filter out prairie dust and warm freezing air in winter with their noses. These antelopes live in Eurasia and southeastern Europe; they formerly ranged all the way across Asia and into North America but have been hunted to near-extinction.

Przewalski's Horse Mongolian wild horses are close cousins to the zebra and the domestic horses we typically ride. These horses are a bit shorter and stockier than other horses, and their hair is thicker because they are adapted to withstand the freezing cold winds of the Mongolian, Kazakstani, and Chinese winters. Like other horses, Przewalski's horse grazes on grasses. What sets them apart from other horses, though, is that they have never been fully domesticated.

Giant Anteater About the size of golden retrievers, giant anteaters look even bigger because of their thick, stiff fur. These remarkable animals live in Central and South American forests and grasslands. True to their name, they eat an incredible 30,000 ants per day.1 To gather so much food, they break open ant hills and then flick their tongues inside up to 150 times per minute to pick up hundreds of ants at a time.

Secretary Bird This huge bird stands nearly five feet tall with a wingspan of nearly seven feet. And yes, it really does look like a secretary — assuming the year is 1880. These birds appear to sport gray tailcoats and dark knickers, and the feathers that project out from around their heads do look a bit like quill pens. Secretary birds live in sub-Saharan Africa, and, as they are birds of prey, they hunt small mammals and reptiles in the long grasses of the African steppe.

Hamadryas Baboon Once considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians, hamadryas baboons are big, tough apes. They live in troops of several hundred, which helps to protect them from predators. If you come face to face with a hamadryas baboon, you may be surprised by their behavior as they yawn in your face to show their sharp canine teeth, smack their lips, or stare you straight in the eye. These behaviors are threats, so it's best to get out of their way quickly.

Jerboa Jerboas are small rodents about the size of a fist. These amazing creatures can leap several feet vertically and horizontally, and move in a zigzag pattern to avoid predators. Amazingly, they get all of their water from the insects and plants. There are 33 species of jerboa; the most famous is a desert dweller with enormous ears, sometimes called the desert rat.

Burrowing Owl Several species of birds take over other creatures' homes. But what makes burrowing owls unique is they live in holes in the ground. These clever creatures spread their scat around the outside of their burrows to attract small rodents and insects for their meals. Burrowing owls are small, and the males and females are about the same size; because they're so diminutive, they can easily become prey for bigger owls as well as mammals like coyotes.