Beasts in the Desert [Monster Thursday]

I recently started a new campaign that takes place in the desert, so I have desert beasts on the brain. These beasts can be found in, and around, a desert locale - with a few of them suitable beasts for the party to fight at higher levels than just 1st level that all other beasts seem to get lumped into.

Dire Camel (CR 3) It's a big camel. We all know that camels can be quite mean and stubborn, but now they are massive in size and the perfect mounts for desert giants. They bite, they spit, they smell; what's not to love?

Dread Vulture (CR 5) Circling high overhead are just a few vultures, but vultures aren't that dangerous for high-level characters... These vultures are quite large and aggressive, not simply content with waiting for creatures to die in the desert, but actively speeding up that process.

Giant Sand Scorpion (CR 10) The big difference between a giant scorpion and a giant sand scorpion is that one has no problem taking down adventuring parties, elephants, small dragons, and anything else it can get its pincers on, the other largely feeds on rats and small beasts. The giant sand scorpion is a massive beast that has a horrible sting that leaves most creatures dead in a single jab.

Iron Scarab Swarm (CR 4) Yes, I have rewatched The Mummy recently. These scarabs are awful creatures that like to burrow into the skin of living creatures and then eat their way into the creature's heart or its brain. They aren't so dangerous by themselves, but when a swarm of them appears, its best to sacrifice any nearby NPCs and run away.

Meerkat (CR 0) I like meerkats. That's why I included them. They live in large packs of up to thirty and are constantly calling to each other, letting one another know what they are up to do, if they see any predators, or just, presumably, asking each other out for dates. I also created a variant rule to take them as a familiar, since I really want to make a PC that has a meerkat and goes on adventures.

Ogre Dust Viper (CR 7) While most vipers are small and fast, the ogre dust viper is huge and fast. It hides most of its bulk beneath the sand where it waits to ambush appropriate prey, envenomating the creature before, presumably, swallowing it whole and taking a well-deserved nap as it slowly digests the creature.