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Our Mountain Lion - Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

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The Desert Museum traditionally adopts orphaned mountain lions, which have not been suitable for release into the wild, including the Museum’s current resident, found as a five and a half-month-old male cub in San Jose, CA in March 2013 weighing only 15 lbs. Rescued and nursed back to health by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, but unsuitable for reintroduction into the wild, its adoption by the Desert Museum was arranged through the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

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Datos de Colín de gambel, dieta, hábitat e imágenes en Animalia.bio

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Datos básicos acerca de Colín de gambel: esperanza de vida, mapa de distribución y hábitat, estilo de vida y comportamiento social, hábitos de apareamiento, dieta y nutrición, tamaño y estado de la población.

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El desierto de Sonora es el hogar de esta ave característica. Las codornices de Gambel suelen ser una especie abundante cerca de los arroyos del desierto y los pozos de agua; las bandadas caminan…

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Hummingbird Printout: Hummingbirds are a tiny birds with a long, thin bill adn the abolity to hover.

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Arthur V. Evans Beetles comprise the largest group of insects on Earth, representing one-quarter of all living organisms and one-third of all animals, with nearly 350,000 species grouped into more than 150 families. Beetles owe their success, in part, to an external skeleton, or exoskeleton, which functions as both skin and skeleton.

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Ants - Natural History of the Sonoran Desert

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Desert Kangaroo Rat - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

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Basic facts about Desert Kangaroo Rat: lifespan, distribution and habitat map, lifestyle and social behavior, mating habits, diet and nutrition, population size and status.

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Aprender datos sobre Colibríes para niños

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Describing hummingbirds without resorting to superlatives would be difficult, and hardly fair. This family includes the world’s smallest birds, with the most brilliant iridescent colors, the fastest wingbeats, and the most amazing ability to fly up, down, sideways, and backwards. They spend their days hovering at flowers to sip nectar, feeding almost constantly to supply the sugar necessary to maintain their racing metabolism. Many people would call these the world’s most fascinating birds.

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Anna’s Hummingbird Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Anna’s Hummingbirds are among the most common hummingbirds along the Pacific Coast, yet they’re anything but common in appearance. With their iridescent emerald feathers and sparkling rose-pink throats, they are more like flying jewelry than birds. Though no larger than a ping-pong ball and no heavier than a nickel, Anna’s Hummingbirds make a strong impression. In their thrilling courtship displays, males climb up to 130 feet into the air and then swoop to the ground with a curious burst of noise that they produce through their tail feathers.

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Aprender datos sobre Pecarí de collar para niños

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Identifying Features

The California Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus) is the only bat in North America, north of Mexico, with large ears and leaf-like projections on the nose. They are grayish to dark brown on their back and have paler fur below. They have very large ears and an erect triangular flap on nose.

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Identifying Features The California Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus californicus) is the only bat in North America, north of Mexico, with large ears and leaf-like projections on the nose. They are grayish to dark brown on their back and have paler fur below. They have very large ears and an erect triangular flap on nose.

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Javelina (Collared Peccary) Printout. The Javelina (Collared Peccary) is a pig-like, hoofed mammal from the Americas.

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In the field, size is an easy way to tell cottontails apart from jackrabbits. Cottontails are small, 1 to 2 pound (.45 to .9 kg) animals, while jacks are quite large, weighing up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and standing just under 2 feet (.6m) tall.

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Darekk2 using the IUCN Red List spatial data and GLOBE grids

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Datos de Borrego cimarrón, dieta, hábitat e imágenes en Animalia.bio

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Datos básicos acerca de Borrego cimarrón: esperanza de vida, mapa de distribución y hábitat, estilo de vida y comportamiento social, hábitos de apareamiento, dieta y nutrición, tamaño y estado de la población.

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Nature's fortress: How cacti keep water in and predators out - Lucas C. Majure

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Jack Rabbit Printout. Jack Rabbits are hares, rabbit-like mammals with large legs and ears.

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Incredible Cactus Can Store Over 1000 Gallons of Water | The Green Planet | PBS

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El reyezuelo de los cactos (Cactus Wren)

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El reyezuelo de los cactos (Cactus Wren)

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El reyezuelo de los cactus: Todo lo que necesita saber -

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Cuando se trata de Cactus Wren, estamos hablando de una de las aves más famosas del mundo, especialmente en los Estados Unidos. esta ave es considerada

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La Aphonopelma chalcodes, habitualmente conocida como tarántula del desierto occidental, tarántula rubia de Arizona o tarántula rubia mexicana es una especie de arácnido que pertenece a la familia Theraphosidae. Su zona de distribución se limita a los desiertos del estado de Arizona y lugares adyacentes de México, pero resulta muy común en su hábitat habitual.

Descripción

El nombre de "tarántula rubia" se refiere a su prosoma, cubierto de cerdas pálidas que contrastan con sus patas y abdomen oscuros. El cuerpo de la hembra puede alcanzar hasta 5,6 cm; los machos no suelen rebasar los 4,4 cm.

Aparte del veneno que utilizan para paralizar a sus presas algunas de las cerdas de su abdomen están diseñadas para la defensa, produciendo un daño urticante. Si una tarántula es amenazada, frotará su abdomen contra su atacante. Las cerdas son muy difícil de retirar debido a las barbas de su diseño.

Reproducción

Las tarántulas macho maduran sexualmente en torno a los 10-12 años de edad, momento en que dejan sus madrigueras en busca de hembras. Las muchas tarántulas que suelen verse en las carreteras y caminos de Arizona durante los últimos meses de verano (julio, agosto, septiembre) suelen ser machos en busca de pareja.

Cuando encuentran la madriguera de una hembra receptiva, los machos normalmente anuncian su presencia golpeando la seda de la entrada en una frecuencia concreta a la que la hembra responde. Durante el apareamiento el macho resulta muy vulnerable y puede terminar devorado por la hembra. Incluso si sobreviven al apareamiento, los machos sólo viven unos pocos meses después de haberse reproducido.

Tras el apareamiento, la hembra deposita una puesta de huevos en una madriguera, y a veces permanece junto a ellos. Las crías permanecen en la madriguera hasta que se dispersan.

Alimentación

Son depredadoras nocturnas, y su alimento habitual consiste en hormigas y vertebrados pequeños. Durante el día permanecen en sus madrigueras excavadas en el suelo y cubren la entrada con hilos de seda.

Véase también

En inglés: Aphonopelma chalcodes Facts for Kids

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Aprender datos sobre Tarántula rubia mexicana para niños

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or Aphonopelma chalcodes, tarántula del desierto occidental, hiañ

Common Misspellings: Dessert Blond Tarantula, Dessert Tarantula, Desert Blond Tarantula, Blond Tarantula

About

What has eight legs and lives in a burrow in the Sonoran Desert? The desert blonde tarantula! This hairy spider can grow to have a leg span of about 5 inches with mature females typically being noticeably larger than males. Most of the time you can find these critters in web-covered burrows waiting for their food to trip over the silk near the entrance.

Adaptations

Due to their coloration, these spiders can camouflage into their environment. Females are stocky with light brown coloration and tan legs that have some dark areas closer to their body. Males have a slender dark brown body and lanky dark legs. This tarantula is covered in tiny hairs and will use their back legs to fling the itchy hairs on their abdomen into the faces of predators. These special hairs are called urticating hairs. Desert blonde tarantulas also have fangs that they will use to inject venom into their prey. These arachnids are typically nocturnal which allows them to avoid the heat of the day.

Food Web

Desert blonde tarantulas are insectivores - they only eat invertebrates and are an important part of the food web. They are a predator to insects like crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, and caterpillars. They will also hunt lizards and arachnids that are smaller than them.

They are preyed upon by many different animals including birds, coyotes, foxes, and reptiles like lizards and snakes. However, their most famous predator is the tarantula hawk (or pepsis wasp).

Habitat and Range

Desert blonde tarantulas can be found within the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Southern California, and Mexico. They are well suited to living in variable weather conditions with little water.

iNaturalist records of Desert Blonde Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) as of March 8, 2024

Family Life

Much like how a snake sheds its skin as it grows, tarantulas must shed their exoskeleton throughout their lives in a process called molting. Both male and female tarantulas mature when they are 8-10 years old, but males tend to die 2-3 years later around the age of 10-12 while females can live upwards of 20 years. There have been some female desert blonde tarantulas that have lived over 25 years in human care! Each year, males emerge during summer rains (July, August, and September) in search of a mate. They are especially vulnerable during this time to heat, cold, and predation (especially from the female tarantulas that they are trying to mate with). Females lay between 2-100 eggs and fewer than 5% of the baby spiders will survive into adulthood.

Glossary

Camouflage:

The ability to hide or disguise the presence of an animal or person. To blend into the surrounding area.

Urticating:

Causes a prickling or singing sensation.

Nocturnal:

Awake at night and asleep during the day.

Insectivore:

Animal that only eats only insects.

Exoskeleton:

A skeleton on the outside of an animal that provides structure and protection.

Pedipalps:

Arms on arachnids that are used to help sense the world around them.

Fun Facts

They have 8 legs, 2 pedipalps, and 8 eyes.

They are known by a variety of names like Arizona desert blond, Mexican blond tarantula, desert blond tarantula, or even the Western desert tarantula.

Conservation

Desert blonde tarantulas are not threatened or endangered.

At The Museum

View on Map

Check out our exhibit tarantulas in the Reptile and Invertebrate Room.

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or Aphonopelma chalcodes, tarántula del desierto occidental, hiañ Common Misspellings: Dessert Blond Tarantula, Dessert Tarantula, Desert Blond Tarantula, Blond Tarantula What has eight legs and lives in a burrow in the Sonoran Desert? The desert blonde tarantula! This hairy spider can grow to have a leg span of about 5 inches with mature females typically being noticeably larger than males.

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Datos de Liebre antílope, dieta, hábitat e imágenes en Animalia.bio

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Datos básicos acerca de Liebre antílope: esperanza de vida, mapa de distribución y hábitat, estilo de vida y comportamiento social, hábitos de apareamiento, dieta y nutrición, tamaño y estado de la población.

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The bark scorpion can be found in many places due to its ability to climb. It can be found not only under rocks or in rock crevices, but also in trees or high on rock walls. They also can be found inside of peoples dwellings trapped in sinks or bathtubs, climbing walls, or in a dark closet.

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Aprender datos sobre Escorpiones para niños

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Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.

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Scorpions are arachnids (and not insects); they are related tospiders and ticks. These ancient animals have been on Earth for over 400 million years (long before the time of the dinosaurs). There are over 1,500 species of scorpions worldwide (they live on every continent except Antarctica). Classification: Order Scorpiones.
These venomous invertebrates live in almost every type of habitat, including deserts, rain forests, prairies, grasslands, forests, mountains, caves, ponds, and seashores. Most scorpions are nocturnal (most active at night), resting under rocks, in crevices, or in burrows during the day. Scorpions give birth to large litters of live young, who quickly climb onto the mother's back after birth; the mother cares for the young until they are able to hunt. Some scorpions live as long as 25 years.

Diet: Scorpions are carnivores (meat-eaters) that paralyze their prey with a stinger located at the tip of the tail. They eat insects and small rodents. The sting of most scorpions is only irritating to people, but about 25 species of scorpions are capable of killing people (including Arizona's bark scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus). Some scorpions can go for a year without food.

Enemies: Shrews and other scorpions prey upon scorpions.

Anatomy: All scorpions have eight legs; each leg has tiny claws. Scorpions have a hard exoskeleton and not an internal skeleton. The stinger at the end of the tail injects a paralyzing poison into the prey. Unlike other arachnids, scorpions have large, pincer-like pedipalps, appendages used to used to grab and subdue prey. Most scorpions are from 0.5 to 8.5 inches (1-21 cm) long. They range in color from black to brown to tan to red. Tiny sensory hairs protrude from the exoskelton; they detect touch, temperature changes, and other information. Comb-like sensors on the bottom of the body also give the scorpion information about the environment.

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Scorpion printout. Scorpion are arachnids; they have eight legs and poison their prey wih a venomous stinger.

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Desert Hairy Scorpion - Arizona Game and Fish Wildlife Center Animal Ambassador

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Datos de Aguililla rojinegra, dieta, hábitat e imágenes en Animalia.bio

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Datos básicos acerca de Aguililla rojinegra: esperanza de vida, mapa de distribución y hábitat, estilo de vida y comportamiento social, hábitos de apareamiento, dieta y nutrición, tamaño y estado de la población.

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Bobcat Printout. Bobcats (Felis rufus) are fierce, nocturnal, solitary cats that live in North America. These fast hunters eat mammals and birds.

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Aprender datos sobre Lince rojo para niños

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The Coral Snake Wrangler | United States of Animals

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Bobcats will usually change their shelter on a daily basis. When they are not active they will rest in hollow logs, a rocky den, a cave, a low tree branch, a boulder or some other covered shelter. When the female has kittens to care for she will have several dens and will move the kittens round between them.

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Wild Baby Mountain Lion Kittens in the Den

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Discovering Mountain Lion Kittens in Grand Canyon National Park Biologist Eric York could tell the kittens had been in the area. He pointed out the stomped-down earth and exposed soil, and picked up a small piece of fur. Eric showed us how the kittens could have used the site and where they might hide.

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Snake vs. Roadrunner Face-off | National Geographic

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Animal Fact File

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Roadrunner facts: "Meep meep" more like "Coo coo" | Animal Fact Files

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On this page is a list of animals that live in the desert, with pictures and facts on each species. We've selected desert animals from all over the world, and because many of these species are threatened, we've included their conservation status according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

Desert Animals

Examples of desert animals include invertebrates such as scorpions and camel spiders; reptiles such as the thorny devil, Gila monster and sidewinder rattlesnake; mammals such as the fennec fox, meerkat, dromedary and Bactrian camel; and birds such as the sandgrouse and lappet-faced vulture.

Introduction To Deserts & Animals That Live In Deserts

(Click here or scroll down to go directly to the animals!)

Deserts are regions in which very little rain falls. Because living things need water to survive, deserts are home to relatively few plants and animals (especially when compared to habitats such as rainforests, jungles and oceans).

Although deserts are known for being extremely hot during the day, they can also get very cold at night (because there are no clouds to prevent a desert's heat from escaping into space).

With very little water, and therefore very little food (plants can't grow without water) - not to mention those extreme temperatures, life in the desert isn't easy.

Many animals that live in the desert have special adaptations to help them survive in this inhospitable environment.

Desert Animal Adaptations

Desert animal adaptations include: large ears for dissipating body heat; a light-colored coat to reflect heat; hairy paws for walking on hot sand; the ability either to store water or to survive on very little water; being nocturnal; and living in a burrow.

Cold Deserts

Not all deserts are hot. Because both the Arctic and Antarctica have very little rain (or snow) they're also considered to be deserts.

These polar regions are known as 'cold deserts'. You can find out about the animals that live in cold deserts on these pages: Arctic Animals and Antarctic Animals.

Hot Deserts

The animals in the list below all live in 'hot deserts' such as the Sahara Desert and Kalahari Desert in Africa, the Sonoran Desert and Mojave Desert in North America, the Great Victoria Desert in Australia, and the Arabian Desert in the Middle East.

Free Desert Animals Worksheet To Download & Print

Test your knowledge of desert animals with this free printable question sheet! (No sign-up required; simply download and print.)

Click here to get your free desert animals question sheet. (Question sheet comes as a printable pdf file.)

For more details, and a selection of other question sheets, see this page: Free Printable Worksheets.

Desert Animals List

A to Z list of desert animals with pictures and facts about each species. Links to further information are provided for many of the animals.

Addax

The addax is a critically endangered species of antelope found in the Sahara Desert. The species is also known as both the "white antelope" and the "screwhorn antelope" due to its pale coat and long, spiral horns.

The main threat to the addax is poaching. Habitat loss has also played a part in the species' Critically Endangered status, with much of the addax's traditional territory having being converted into farmland.

There may be fewer than 90 adult addax left in the wild; perhaps as few as 30. This desert animal may soon be extinct in the wild.

Antelope Jackrabbit

The antelope jackrabbit is a hare found in deserts and other dry habitats in the south western United States. It is one of the largest North American hares.

The species can be identified by its large size, very long, pointed ears, white / gray sides, white underparts, buff neck and chest, and black / buff back.

The diet of this herbivorous mammal includes cacti and mesquite leaves. (Mesquite is a small tree that grows in deserts and other dry habitats.)

Arabian Oryx / White Oryx

The Arabian oryx is the smallest of the four antelopes in the genus oryx. It stands 1m tall at the shoulders, and its long, straight horns are almost as tall again, reaching 75 cm in length.

The Arabian oryx became extinct in the wild in the early 1970's. A reintroduction program that began in the 1990's saw captive animals being released back into the wild. Today there are around 850 Arabian oryxes living in the wild.

The biggest threat to the species is illegal hunting.

Arabian Sand Gazelle / Reem

The Arabian sand gazelle (also known as a 'reem') is a small antelope. The ends of its horns curve inwards.

A desert specialist, the Arabian sand gazelle was once found throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Today most of the population resides in protected areas.

The species is currently rated Vulnerable by the IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature). The main threats to the species are illegal hunting and habitat loss.

Camel Spiders

Type of animal: Arachnids, order Solifugae

Where found: Syrian Desert

Camel spiders are arachnids in the order Solifugae. (An order is a group of related animals.) Camel spiders are also known as wind scorpions, sun spiders and solifuges.

Many camel spiders can be identified by their large, powerful mouth parts. All camel spiders have four pairs of legs and a pair of additional, leg-like structures called 'predipalps', which are used for sensing and feeding.

Unlike their fellow arachnids the spiders, camel spiders are unable to produce silk, and do not spin webs.

There are over 1,000 species of camel spider. They range in size from a few millimeters to 15 cm (6 in.) in length (including legs). Most camel spiders are desert animals, although some are found in grasslands and forests.

Deathstalker Scorpion

Scientific name: Leiurus quinquestriatus

Type of animal: Arachnid, scorpion

Where found: Sahara Desert, Arabian Desert

Conservation status: n/a

The deathstalker is one desert animal you probably don't want to encounter. Its venom is among the most powerful of all scorpions. A sting from this fearsome arachnid is extremely painful and potentially fatal.

The deathstalker inhabits desert and scrubland habitat in North Africa and Western Asia. It is around 2.36 in / 6 cm in length, and appears in a variety of colors and markings, making it hard to identify.

The deathstalker isn't all bad news; its venom can be used to locate tumors in the human body.

Desert Iguana

The desert iguana is found in the southwestern USA and northern Mexico. It is one of the most commonly encountered lizards in the deserts in this region.

The species grows to around 24 in. (60 cm) in length including the tail, which is around 1 ½ times the length of the body. Its base color is grey / light brown, with darker lines running along its back, and dark rings on its tail.

The desert iguana is active during the day even in high temperatures. If disturbed, it will quickly retreat into a burrow or other shelter.

Dromedary

Camels are among the most famous of all desert animals. These hoofed mammals are a common sight in many desert regions, where they were domesticated around 4,000 years ago. Camels are used for transport, food and clothing.

There are three camel species: the single-humped dromedary, and the two-humped Bactrian and Wild Bactrian. They make up the genus Camelus.

The dromedary is by far the most abundant camel, representing 94% of all camels. Today it is a domestic animal, most often seen in desert regions. Australia has a small feral dromedary population made up of the descendants of animals introduced to the country by humans.

The dromedary has many adaptations for living in the desert. These include bushy eyebrows, double-layered eyelashes, and nostrils that can close up completely, all of which provide protection from sand storms.

The dromedary is able to go long periods of time without drinking. It stores both water and energy - in the form of body fat - in its hump.

Fennec Fox

The fennec fox is a mammal found in North Africa and the Middle East. It is the smallest member of the dog family Canidae, with a maximum body length of around 16 in. (41 cm).

The fennec fox is known for its distinctive long ears, which are up to 15 cm (almost 6 in.) in length.

The fox's ears serve a dual purpose: not only do they provide extra-sensitive hearing (useful for locating prey that is underground), but they also help to keep the fox cool. Blood vessels close to the skin in the ears dissipate body heat into the air.

A thick layer of fur on the fennec fox's paws provide grip and protection from the hot sand.

The fennec fox has a thick, pale orange coat. This keeps the fox warm at night, when temperatures in the Sahara Desert can be surprisingly low, even (occasionally) dropping below 0 °C.

Greater Flamingo

The greater flamingo is the largest of the six species of flamingo, and one of only two found outside of the Americas.

This large, pale pink bird is found in shallow lakes, lagoons and estuaries in Africa, Asia and Europe.

Although not exclusively a desert animal, the greater flamingo does visit shallow lakes and flood plains in desert regions.

Each year, many thousands of greater flamingos visit the Makgadikgadi Pan of north eastern Botswana in order to breed. The shallow, highly salty waters of the Makgadikgadi Pan are surrounded by the Kalahari Desert.

Gila Monster

The Gila monster is a lizard found in a range of dry habitats throughout the southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. It is a relatively large, slow-moving lizard. It has rounded, bead-like scales and a blotchy black / orange-pink coloration.

The Gila monster is one of only two venomous lizards found in the Americas (the other is the closely related Mexican beaded lizard).

The danger posed by these desert animals is often exaggerated. Although a bite from a Gila monster is painful, to most healthy humans it isn't life-threatening.

Golden Hamster

The golden hamster is a rodent found in the wild in Syria and Turkey (the animal is also known as the Syrian hamster).

Although a popular pet in many parts of the world, the wild population of golden hamsters is decreasing, and the species' conservation status is Vulnerable.

Golden hamsters are territorial, and do not tolerate other hamsters in their territories. Hamsters are able to carry large amounts of food in the cheek pouches - useful if they come across more food than they are able to eat in one sitting.

Jerboas

Jerboas are a group of rodents within the family Dipodidae. They are found in deserts and other arid habitats in Northern Africa, Asia and Australia.

Jerboas move by hopping, in a similar way to kangaroos. They have long, powerful hind legs and short fore limbs. A long tail helps the jerboa to keep its balance when hopping or standing upright. Some jerboas can hop more than ten times their own body length!

Jerboas have several adaptations for living in the desert. These include a sandy colored coat that provides camouflage, and a burrowing lifestyle. They are active either at twilight or at night, thereby avoiding the hottest hours of the day.

Kit Fox

Type of animal: Mammal, order Rodentia (rodent), family Dipodidae

Where found: Gobi Desert

The kit fox is a small canid (member of the dog family) found in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It inhabits deserts and other dry habitats, such as scrublands and grasslands.

The species is known for its large ears, which provide both excellent hearing and a means of reducing body heat. Heat is dissipated by blood vessels in the ears.

Another adaptation for life in the desert is dense hair on the soles of the feet. This provides traction on slippery sand, and also protection from the heat.

Kit foxes rarely drink. Instead they get most of the water they require from their almost completely carnivorous diet.

A nocturnal, burrowing lifestyle helps them avoid the highest desert temperatures.

Lappet-Faced Vulture

The lappet-faced vulture is a large bird of prey found in Africa and the Middle East. It has a bald, pink / red head and a powerful bill, which is almost 4 in. (10 cm) long and 2 in. (5 cm) deep. Its wingspan can reach 8.5 ft. (2.6 m).

Like most vultures it is primarily a scavenger, although the lappet-faced vulture is also thought to hunt live prey on occasion.

As one of the biggest and strongest vultures, the lappet-faced vulture will prevent other vultures from feeding on carrion it has found. It has also been known to stand its ground against a jackal!

Using its huge bill, the vulture can tear apart even tough skin, tendons and bone. It is a 'living tin-opener', making carrion accessible for smaller vultures and other scavengers who can't break through the tough hides.

You can find out more about this desert species on this page: Kit Fox Facts

Meerkat

The meerkat is a mammal in the mongoose family Herpestidae. It is found in desert and other dry habitats, including savannah and grassland. It is known for its highly social behavior and distinctive upright stance.

This characterful desert animal lives in groups that can contain up to 50 individuals. The group is active during the day, and spends the nights in large burrows.

Members of a group will often groom each other before heading off to forage. Sentries survey the landscape for threats, and will alert the group using different alarm calls depending on the threat.

Mojave Desert Tortoise

As its name suggests, the Mojave Desert tortoise is found in North America's Mojave Desert. Until 2011 it had been considered to be the same species as the Sonoran desert tortoise, Gopherus morafkai. Prior to then both species had been known as the "desert tortoise".

The Mojave Desert tortoise is present to the north and west of the Colorado River in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. This shy reptile is rarely encountered; it spends up to 95% of the time in burrows, or hidden in rock shelters.

The Mojave Desert tortoise digs its own burrows, and will hibernate underground during the winter.

A 2020 study, whose results were published in 2021, found the species to be Critically Endangered. This is due mainly to habitat loss.

Mulgara

Mulgaras are rat-sized marsupials found in desert regions of central Australia. There are two species of mulgara: the brush-tailed mulgara and the crest-tailed mulgara. The crest-tailed mulgara has a crest-like ridge of longer hairs on its tail.

Mulgaras are in the same family, Dasyuridae, as the Tasmanian devil and the quolls.

Both mulgaras are carnivorous, feeding mainly on small reptiles, insects and rodents. They conserve energy by periodically entering torpor - a state of reduced activity that resembles a 'mini-hibernation'.

These Australian desert animals rarely drink, and their kidneys are specially adapted to preserve water.

Namib Desert Beetle / Fogstand Beetle

The fogstand beetle is an insect found in the Namib Desert, a coastal desert in southern Africa.

Scientific name: Brush-tailed mulgara: Dasycercus blythi; Crest-tailed mulgara: Dasycercus cristicauda

Type of animal: Mammal, marsupial

Where found: Great Sandy Desert

Conservation status: Brush-tailed mulgara: Least Concern; Crest-tailed mulgara: Vulnerable

Using its specially-adapted wing-cases, the beetle can collect minute droplets of water from the early morning fog. The tiny droplets build up until the water runs down the beetle's back and into its mouth.

This is a useful skill to have in a region that receives only 1.4 cm (0.55 in.) per year!

This desert insect's water collecting abilities haven't gone unnoticed; inventors are working on materials and products that utilize similar methods to collect water from the air!

Onager

Also known as the Asiatic wild ass, the onager is a hoofed mammal in the horse family Equidae. The species is found in Asia, where it inhabits deserts (including the Gobi desert) and other dry, open habitats.

The species has four living subspecies: the Mongolian wild ass, Turkmenian kulan, Persian onager and Indian wild ass. Each is found in a different part of Asia. Both the Turkmenian kulan and Persian onager are rated Endangered.

The onager is one of the world's fastest mammals. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h / 43 mph.

Red-Spotted Toad

This small toad is found in deserts and other dry habitats in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It reaches lengths of around 3 inches (7.6cm), and has pale olive green skin marked with black patches and smaller red spots.

Scientific name: Equus hemionus

Type of animal: Mammal, order Perissodactyla (Odd-toed ungulates)

Where found: Gobi Desert, other dry habitats in Asia

Conservation status: Near Threatened (two subspecies are Endangered)

The red-spotted toad spends much of its time sheltering from the sun in rocky crevices near streams. It is most often seen during periods of rainfall, when it emerges from its hiding place.

Roadrunner (Greater)

The greater roadrunner is one of two species of roadrunner, the other being the lesser roadrunner ( Geococcyx velox), which is found in Mexico and Central America. The two roadrunners are the only living members of the genus Geococcyx, which is part of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae.

Although roadrunners can fly, they only do so as a last resort when evading predators - they spend most of the time on the ground, and are excellent runners.

The greater roadrunner can run at speeds of up to 26 mph (41.8 km/h) - faster than any other non-flightless bird (even record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt can only reach this speed for a few seconds in a race).

Saharan Silver Ant

The silvery appearance of this African desert ant is caused by tiny hairs on its body; a special adaptation that reflects the hot desert sun, preventing the insect from overheating.

The Saharan silver ant has other adaptations for living in the desert: its long legs keep its body away from the hot sand, and it often walks using just four of its six legs, thereby minimizing the area in contact with the sand.

Scientific name: Geococcyx californianus

Type of animal: Bird, family Cuculidae

Where found: Desert regions of the United States & Mexico

Conservation status: Least Concern

These adaptations are vitally important because the Saharan silver ant only emerges from its nest for around 10 minutes per day. The timing is crucial: it has to be hot enough so that ant-eating lizards are forced to seek shelter.

Sand Cat / Sand Dune Cat

The sand cat is a rarely-seen desert cat found in northern Africa and the Middle East. It is smaller than a domestic cat, and has pale, sandy-colored hair, which is often marked with darker spots or stripes.

A layer of thick fur on the sand cat's paws provides protection from the hot desert sand.

The sand cat has large, pointed ears, and is thought to have hearing that is far more acute than that of a domestic cat.

The sand cat is usually either nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn or dusk). It is only active during the day in the coolest months of the year.

Sandgrouse

Sandgrouses are birds in the family Pteroclidae. Most of the 16 members of this family are found either in deserts or other dry habitats.

These medium-sized, ground-dwelling birds are seed-eaters. Sandgrouses often congregate in large numbers around waterholes then disperse to forage for seeds either alone or in smaller groups.

The Namaqua sandgrouse (pictured above) is found in Southern Africa, including the Kalahari Desert and the Namib Desert.

Sidewinder

The sidewinder is a species of rattlesnake that inhabits desert regions in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. It is also found in northern Mexico.

The species' name comes from the way in which it moves; by anchoring its tail and pushing its head forwards, then pulling its tail forwards and repeating the process, it can move at high speeds over sand. Although the snake's head points in the direction of travel, its body appears to be moving sideways.

This way of moving is also used by other desert snakes, and is known as sidewinding.

The sidewinder is also known as the horned rattlesnake due to the horn-like scales that project out from above its eyes.

Type of animal: Birds in the family Pteroclidae

Where found: Desert regions of Africa & Asia

The sidewinder is venomous. Its bite is extremely painful, but rarely life-threatening. The sidewinder's venom is relatively weak compared to that of most other rattlesnakes.

Southern Marsupial Mole

Convergent evolution occurs when different types of animal develop similar characteristics or abilities due to their having the same type of lifestyle.

The marsupial mole, an Australian desert animal, is an example of convergent evolution. It looks and behaves very much like a true mole, but as a marsupial is only very distantly related to the animals from which it gets its name.

This rat-sized desert marsupial lives in the hot, dry regions of inner Australia. It lives underground in tunnels, where it hunts earthworms and other invertebrates. The marsupial mole is blind, and probably uses a well-developed sense of smell to find its food.

Tarantula Hawk Wasp

Tarantula hawk wasps are large wasps of genus Pepsis.

One of the best known species of tarantula hawk wasp is Pepsis grossa. Its sting is said to be the second most painful in the insect world, after that of the infamous bullet ant.

The tarantula hawk's sting scores pain level 4 - the highest score - on the Schmidt sting pain index, a scale for rating insect stings. Although excruciatingly painful, the sting is short-lived and non-fatal to humans.

Pepsis grossa is found in the southern United States and Mexico. It uses its powerful sting to hunt tarantula spiders.

The tarantula hawk wasp is the state insect of New Mexico.

Thorny Devil

Scientific name: Pepsis grossa / Pepsis formosa (and other members of genera Pepsis and Hemipepsis)

Type of animal: Insect in the family Pompilidae (the spider wasp family)

Where found: Mojave Desert

Conservation status: unassessed

The thorny devil is a small lizard found in dry regions throughout most of central and west Australia. Its body and limbs are covered in rows of spines. Behind its head is a 'decoy head'; a fleshy growth with two large horns. This is displayed to deter potential predators.

Tiny grooves in the thorny devils' skin transport water directly to its mouth. Using this adaptation, the lizard can drink from the dew that forms on its body overnight.

Water-Holding Frog

The water-holding frog is a desert amphibian found in the dry central region of Australia.

Although a member of the family Hylidae (the tree frog family), the water-holding frog lives on the ground.

In fact, the species spends much of its life buried up to 1 meter (3.28 ft.) underground, wrapped in a cocoon. It only emerges after a period of heavy rain, when it makes its way to a swamp or waterhole in order to breed.

During dry periods the water-holding frog is able to aestivate. Aestivation is a state similar to hibernation, in which the frog becomes inactive in order to conserve energy.

The water-holding frog is so-named because it stores water in its bladder when buried. Australian aborigines used to dig the frogs up as a source of water.

Wild Bactrian Camel

The wild Bactrian camel is a critically endangered desert animal. It is closely related to the Bactrian camel, a domesticated species.

Both Bactrian camels have two humps, but those of the wild Bactrian are smaller. The species is also slightly smaller in overall size than its domestic relative.

The wild Bactrian camel is said to be able to tolerate water even saltier than seawater.

Only around 950 wild Bactrian camels remain in the wild. Around 600 live in the Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve in China. Around 350 live in the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area in Mongolia. Their numbers are decreasing.

Desert Animals For Kids: Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed meeting these desert animals. What is your favorite desert species? Have you seen any of these animals in the wild? Are there any other desert animals you think should be on this list?

Let us know in the comments below; we'd love to hear your views!

Discover Amazing Animals That Live In Other habitats...

Become an Animal Expert with Active Wild...

Visit these pages to learn more about animals and the animal kingdom:

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Desert Animals List With Pictures & Amazing Facts

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On this page is a list of animals that live in the desert, with pictures and facts on each species. We've selected desert animals from all over the world, and because many of these species are threatened, we've included their conservation status according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

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https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Roadrunner/overview

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The roadrunner ( Geococcyx) is a fast-running bird. The roadrunner is also called the " chaparral bird" and the "chaparral cock".

The roadrunners are a genus of ground cuckoos. The two species of roadrunners are the greater roadrunner and the lesser roadrunner. The greater roadrunner, ( Geococcyx californianus) lives in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.A. The lesser roadrunner, ( Geococcyx velox) lives in Mexico and Central America.

Description

The roadrunner is a large, slender, black-brown and white streaked ground bird which has an average weight of 8 to 15 ounces, and is about 18 inches (46 cm) to 22 inches (56 cm) from tail to beak. It has long legs, strong feet, and a big dark beak. The roadrunner is terrestrial (lives on land). Even though it can fly, it spends most of its time on the ground. When they fly their wings are short and rounded and have a white crescent on the feathers. Roadrunners and other members of the cuckoo family have zygodactyl feet (two toes on the front and two toes on the back). Roadrunners can run up to the speed of 20 miles per hour (32 km per hour). They fly to escape predators.

Roadrunners live in deserts of the southwestern U.S.A, Mexico and Central America.

Roadrunners are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. They eat insects like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and caterpillars, small reptiles like lizards and snakes, rodents and other small mammals. They also eat tarantulas and other spiders, scorpions, centipedes, snails, small birds and eggs. The plants they eat are fruits and seeds like prickly pear cactus and sumac. Roadrunners search on the ground to find food. They usually run after their prey but also sometimes may leap to catch insects. Because of its fast speed, the roadrunner is one of the few animals that preys upon the rattlesnake. The roadrunner is the only real predator of the tarantula hawk .

Nest and eggs

The nest of roadrunner is made up of mainly sticks and sometimes leaves, and snake skin. A nest usually contains 2-6 eggs which are white colored. Roadrunners have bi-parental care. Both parents take care of the nest and feed the hatchlings, but males take care of the nest at night and females at day. For the first 1 to 2 weeks after the young hatch, one parent always remains at the nest. After the hatchlings are 2 to 3 weeks old they leave and never return to the nest.

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The roadrunner ( Geococcyx) is a fast-running bird. The roadrunner is also called the " chaparral bird" and the "chaparral cock". The roadrunners are a genus of ground cuckoos. The two species of roadrunners are the greater roadrunner and the lesser roadrunner. The greater roadrunner, ( Geococcyx californianus) lives in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.A.

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See Why the Mysterious Mountain Lion Is the ‘Bigfoot’ of Big Cats | Short Film Showcase

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Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Status: Threatened

Description

The mountain lion-also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount-is a large cat species native to the Americas. Mountain lions are large, tan cats. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. Black markings decorate the tip of the tail, ears, and around the snout. Mountain lions vary hugely in average body size depending on geographic location-their size is smallest closer to the equator and largest closer to the poles. Generally, though, males weigh between 115 and 220 pounds (52 and 100 kilograms) and females weigh between 64 and 141 pounds (29 and 64 kilograms).

Range

The mountain lion's range spreads all across the Americas, from the Canadian Yukon to The Strait of Magellan, the greatest of range of any living mammal in the Americas. Mountain lions inhabit a wide range of ecosystems, making their home anywhere there is shelter and prey, including mountains, forests, deserts, and wetlands. They are territorial and have naturally low population densities, which means the species requires large swaths of wilderness habitat to thrive.

Diet

Mountain lions are stealthy predators, hunting at night and often lying in wait for prey or silently stalking it before pouncing from behind and delivering a lethal bite to the spinal cord. Typically they prey on deer, but also feed on smaller animals, even insects, when necessary. Like all cats, mountain lions are strict carnivores, and they only rarely consume vegetation.

Life History

Mountain lions can breed year-round. Female mountain lions usually give birth every two years. Litters can range in size from one to six cubs. The young may stay with their mother for as long as 26 months, but usually separate after about 15 months. In the wild, a mountain lion can live up to 10 years. In captivity, they can live up to 21 years.

Conservation

The historic range of the mountain lion included almost all of North and South America. The species was so wide-reaching and populous that it had multiple subspecies that varied based on location. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, people feared the mountain lion because it posed a risk to their livestock. The species was maliciously hunted and almost eradicated from the eastern United States. Due to conservation efforts, mountain lion populations in the western United States are stable, although far lower than they were historically. While there are still several thousand mountain lions in the wild, their population has significantly decreased from their historical population due to unsustainable hunting, habitat destruction, and conflicts with livestock.

Mountain lions are an "umbrella species" for conservation because their conservation depends on the preservation of large amounts of habitat. A mountain lion usually requires about 13 times as much area as a black bear or 40 times as much area as a bobcat to thrive. By preserving enough wilderness to support a stable mountain lion population, countless other species of plants and animals that share mountain lion habitat benefit.

The eastern cougar, a subspecies of mountain lion, was declared officially extinct by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2011, although individuals from western populations have been confirmed to wander as far as the East Coast. Florida panthers, the other U.S. subspecies of mountain lion, are listed as critically endangered on the endangered species list. There are less than 160 Florida panthers left in the wild.

Learn more about our work through our Save LA Cougars campaign.

Fun Fact

Unlike other large cats, they cannot roar. Instead they growl, shriek, hiss and purr, similar to house cats. Mountain lions are territorial and solitary. They use pheromones and physical signs (like claw markings or feces) to define their territory.

Sources

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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Mountain Lion | National Wildlife Federation

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Learn facts about the mountain lion's habitat, diet, life history, and more.

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Datos generales

Carnívora; ciervos principalmente, otros ungulados, puercoespines, liebres y castores

Bosque de coníferas, bosque tropical de la planicie, pastizales, pantanos y zonas arbustivas

1 a 6, siendo mas general 2 3 cachorros

Desde Canadá hasta el sur de Chile y la Patagonia

Descripción

El puma es una especie nativa para Norte América. La longitud total del cuerpo varía de 1.05 a 1.95 m, la cola puede medir de 66 a 78 cm de largo y el peso varía de 67 a 103 Kg en machos. Las hembras son más pequeñas su longitud va de 97 a 1.5 m, la cola varía de 53 a 82 cm y el peso fluctúa de 30 a 60 Kg. En general, los especímenes más pequeños viven en los trópicos y los más grandes en las partes más al norte o al sur de su rango de distribución. Hay dos fases en la coloración del pelaje: una varia de tonos canela, parduzco y cuero a canela rojizo y a herrumbrado. La otra varía de gris plateado a azuloso y gris pizarra.
El cuerpo es alargado, la cabeza es pequeña, el rostro es corto y el cuello y la cola son alargados. Las patas posteriores son más grandes que las anteriores y están poderosamente construidas. Las orejas son pequeñas, cortas y redondas. Las hembras tienen tres pares de mamas.
El puma tiene la distribución más amplia de cualquier mamífero en el hemisferio occidental. Sus hábitats son muy variados siempre y cuando le ofrezcan refugios adecuados y presas que cazar. Puede vivir a nivel del mar que hasta 3500 ó 4500m. de altitud. Busca refugio temporal en la vegetación densa, hendiduras rocosas y cuevas. Es ágil y tiene una gran capacidad de saltar, hasta una altura de más de 5 m. desde un árbol; nada bien pero prefiere no entrar en el agua. La vista es el sentido más agudo y el oído también, pero se piensa que el olfato esta poco desarrollado. Puede ser diurno o nocturno y caza en una gran superficie y le toma hasta una semana recorrerla.
El puma acecha cuidadosamente a su presa y puede saltar sobre ella o atraparlo después de una rápida persecución. Usualmente, la presa es arrastrada a un lugar protegido y la devora parcialmente. Los restos son cubiertos con hojas y detritos y son consumidos en visitas posteriores.
El puma es generalmente solitario y los individuos se evitan deliberadamente, excepto durante el breve periodo de cortejo. Sus vocalizaciones son semejantes a las del gato doméstico pero más fuertes. Las crías pesan de 226 a 453 gr al nacer y presentan manchas hasta los seis meses de edad. Son amamantados durante 3 meses o más, pero comienzan a comer a las 6 semanas de edad. Si nacen en la primavera, son capaces de acompañar a la madre en otoño y de cazar sus propias presas al final del invierno. Sin embargo, es usual que permanezcan con su madre por varios meses de inclusive otro año. Después de dejar a la madre, los cachorros siguen juntos por 2 ó 3 meses más. La madurez sexual es alcanzada por las hembras hasta que al menos tienen 3 años de edad. La actividad reproductora regular no comienza hasta que el animal joven se establece en un territorio permanente.
Al puma generalmente se le considera inofensivo para la gente aunque ha habido ataques. El puma ha sido largamente visto como una amenaza para los animales domésticos, tales como caballos y ovejas, y se cree que también algunas veces reduce las poblaciones de los animales de caza.

Escríbenos

zoogdl@zooguadalajara.com.mx

Llámanos

33 36 74 44 88

Desarrollado por Oscar Daniel Gutiérrrez Gileta.

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Carnívora; ciervos principalmente, otros ungulados, puercoespines, liebres y castores Bosque de coníferas, bosque tropical de la planicie, pastizales, pantanos y zonas arbustivas 1 a 6, siendo mas general 2 3 cachorros Desde Canadá hasta el sur de Chile y la Patagonia El puma es una especie nativa para Norte América.

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Datos generales

Bosques arenosos y zonas costeras.

Endémicas para el continente Americano, desde el Sureste de Canadá hasta el Norte de Argentina.

Descripción

Las serpientes de cascabel son venenosa. Todas las especies menos una, C. catalinensis, son fácilmente reconocibles por el característico sonido de su cascabel el cual se encuentra en la punta de la cola.
Algunas especies de serpiente de cascabel pueden alcanzar hasta 2,5 metros de largo, y los 4 kg de peso. Su piel con círculos amarillos, está marcada en el centro por colores negros (parecidos a diamantes) hace que este tipo de reptil sea el mejor adornado de todo Norteamérica.
Como su nombre lo dice, el cascabel lo forman unos estuches córneos en el extremo de la cola que en caso de peligro les permiten emitir un sonido de aviso de que es peligrosa y quizá proteja la serpiente de ser pisada por los grandes mamíferos.
Erróneamente se cree que cada año se añade un aro más a este cascabel, lo que permite estimar la edad del animal. Sin embargo, es completamente falso, el crecimiento del cascabel está relacionado directamente con las mudas de piel; es decir que por cada ocasión que la serpiente mude de piel, crecerá un aro más, y debido a que una serpiente puede mudar más de una vez al año, e inclusivo perder el cascabel total o parcialmente este método para determinar la edad no resulta eficiente.
En situaciones de peligro las serpientes de cascabel se suelen enrollar y poner el cuello en forma de "S" para poder atacar más velozmente. Con su cola emiten un sonido de aviso.
El veneno de estos animales es muy fuerte. Destruye los glóbulos rojos de la sangre y hace penetrables los vasos sanguíneos. Así afecta al tejido corporal y a la circulación. Sus mordeduras son tremendamente dolorosas y pueden ser fatales para un humano.

Escríbenos

zoogdl@zooguadalajara.com.mx

Llámanos

33 36 74 44 88

Desarrollado por Oscar Daniel Gutiérrrez Gileta.

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Bosques arenosos y zonas costeras. Endémicas para el continente Americano, desde el Sureste de Canadá hasta el Norte de Argentina. Las serpientes de cascabel son venenosa. Todas las especies menos una, C. catalinensis, son fácilmente reconocibles por el característico sonido de su cascabel el cual se encuentra en la punta de la cola.

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Aprender datos sobre Correcaminos grande para niños

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Terrifying: The Venomous Sidewinder Snake Slithers at 18 MPH

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Un ejemplar grande de serpiente del desierto puede medir hasta 1,27 metros de longitud total, sin contar los sonajeros.

Su color predominante es el canela u oliva, con una serie de manchas oscuras corriendo por la parte posterior. Las manchas tienen bordes oscuros de color marrón uniforme, gris oscuro y centros de oliva marrón.

A medida que se acercan a la cola, las manchas se transforman poco a poco en bandas cruzadas. La cola es a menudo gris pálida, con anillos negros, grises oscuro o marrón, y que son más estrechos que el espacio entre ellos.

Un fino y ligero color franja se extiende hacia atrás desde la esquina posterior del ojo hasta más allá de la esquina de la boca. Las pupilas son verticalmente elípticas y las escamas dorsales están queladas.

La serpiente del desierto, también conocidas como serpiente de cascabel del Mohave o verde de Mohave, se encuentra en la mayor parte del oeste y el sur de Arizona, en elevaciones que van desde el nivel del mar, a lo largo del río Colorado, hasta más de cinco mil 200 metros de altura.

Las serpientes cascabel del Mohave habitan en Sonora, Mohave, como es lógico, y en el desierto de Chihuahua y semidesiertos pastizales.

En algunas localidades de Arizona entra en los tramos inferiores de los llanos y de las comunidades de la Gran Cuenca de pastizales. Se encuentra generalmente por debajo de las pendientes pronunciadas, en terrenos relativamente llanos, como valles bajos, bajadas de suave pendiente y ondulantes colinas.

Se hiberna durante los meses fríos de finales del otoño y el invierno. Cuando se siente amenazada esta serpiente a veces exhibe un despliegue defensivo dramático que incluye traqueteo incesante, elevación de la cabeza en una alta postura sorprendente, movimientos frecuentes y un retiro gradual hacia el refugio más cercano.

Al igual que otras víboras de la subfamilia Crotalinae, esta serpiente utiliza pozos de detección de calor (una a cada lado de la cabeza, entre el ojo y la ventana de la nariz) para detectar depredadores de sangre caliente y presas.
Reproducción
El apareamiento de esta cascabel tiene lugar en primavera y verano. Una camada de hasta 17 jóvenes nace mayormente en la etapa veraniega.

Si una persona se encuentra con algún ejemplar debe dejarlo solo, ya que un gran porcentaje de los envenenamientos ocurren cuando una serpiente es abusada o se intenta manipular.

Esta serpiente es ampliamente conocida por tener uno de los venenos más potentes de todas las especies de su área geográfica.

Lo que es notable acerca del veneno de la cascabel del desierto de Mohave es el efecto que produce. Una mordedura de serpiente cascabel, la mayoría de las cuales presenta veneno hemotóxico, produce dolor localizado, hinchazón y decoloración del tejido en la zona de la picadura.

Pero una mordedura de una serpiente de cascabel de Mohave puede producir efectos neurológicos tales como dificultades para respirar.

Si alguna vez una persona se encuentra con una de estas serpientes en la naturaleza, debe respetar su espacio y dejarlas solas. La mayoría de las mordeduras ocurren cuando la serpiente de cascabel se pisa accidentalmente o es intencionalmente acosada.

La persona puede evitar la primera de estas causas con cautela mientras camina al aire libre, y la segunda sólo siendo inteligente y no perturbando innecesariamente a un animal.

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Un ejemplar grande de serpiente del desierto puede medir hasta 1,27 metros de longitud total, sin contar los sonajeros. Su color predominante es el canela u oliva, con una serie de manchas oscuras corriendo por la parte posterior. Las manchas tienen bordes oscuros de color marrón uniforme, gris oscuro y centros de oliva marrón.

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Sidewinders get their name from their unique form of side-stepping locomotion that is an adaptation for moving across loosely packed desert sands. They are a type of rattlesnake and are venomous.

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Sidewinder

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EPIC class code: lze5220

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Western diamond-backed rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, Adobe snake, Arizona diamond rattlesnake, coon tail, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back

The western diamondback rattlesnake or Texas diamond-back ( Crotalus atrox ) is a venomous rattlesnake species and member of the Viper family, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is likely responsible for the majority of snakebite fatalities in northern Mexico and the greatest number of snakebites in the U.S. No subspecies are currently recognized.

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It lives in elevations from below sea level up to 6,500 feet (2,000 m). This species ranges throughout the Southwestern United States and northern half of Mexico. Currently, western diamondback rattlesnakes are not threatened or endangered.
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Appearance

The Western diamondback rattlesnake is a medium-sized venomous snake found in Northern America. The color pattern of these snakes generally consists of the dusty-looking gray-brown ground color, but it may also be pinkish-brown, brick red, yellowish, pinkish, or chalky white. This ground color is overlaid dorsally with a series of dorsal body blotches that are dark gray-brown to brown in color. Some of the first few blotches may be somewhat rectangular, but then become more hexagonal and eventually take on a distinctive diamond shape, hence the name "diamondback rattlesnake". The tail has two to eight black bands separated by ash white or pale gray interspaces; this led to the nickname "coon tail".

Photos with Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Distribution

Geography

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are found in the United States from central Arkansas to southeastern and Central California, south into Mexico as far as northern Sinaloa, Hidalgo, and northern Veracruz. In the United States, they occur in central and western Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, southern and central New Mexico and Arizona, extreme southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and southeastern California on either side of the Chocolate Mountains. In Mexico, they occur in Nuevo León, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, extreme northeastern Baja California, northern Sinaloa, northeastern Durango, Zacatecas, most of San Luis Potosí, northern Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Querétaro. These snakes have also been reported on a number of islands in the Gulf of California, including San Pedro Mártir, Santa María (Sinaloa), Tíburon, and the Turner Islands. Western diamondback rattlesnakes live in different habitats that range from flat coastal plains to steep rocky canyons and hillsides; they can be found in the desert, sandy creosote areas, mesquite grassland, desert scrub, open pine forest, and pine-oak forests.

Habits and Lifestyle

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are solitary creatures. Usually inactive between late October and early March, these snakes occasionally may be seen basking in the sun on warm winter days. They can be active at any time of the day or night when conditions are favorable. They are primarily diurnal and crepuscular in spring and fall and become nocturnal and crepuscular during the hot summer months. These snakes hunt mainly at night or in the early morning. In the winter, they hibernate or brumate in caves or burrows, sometimes with many other species of snakes. Western diamondbacks are poor climbers. When threatened, they usually coil and rattle to warn aggressors. They are one of the more aggressive rattlesnake species in the US in the way that they stand their ground when confronted by a foe. If rattling does not work, then the snake will strike in defense.

Venom

Like most other American pit vipers, the venom contains proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic venoms are concentrated secretions that destroy tissues as a result of catabolism of structural and other proteins, which help in disabling prey. The venom of C. atrox is primarily hemotoxic, affecting mainly the blood vessels, blood cells and the heart. The venom contains hemorrhagic components called zinc metalloproteinases. The venom also contains cytotoxins and myotoxins which destroy cells and muscles, adding to the damage to the cardiovascular system. In addition to hemorrhage, venom metalloproteinases induce myonecrosis (skeletal muscle damage), which seems to be secondary to the ischemia that ensues in muscle tissue as a consequence of bleeding and reduced perfusion. Microvascular disruption by metalloproteinases also impairs skeletal muscle regeneration, being thereby responsible for fibrosis and permanent tissue loss. General local effects include pain, heavy internal bleeding, severe swelling, severe muscle damage, bruising, blistering, and necrosis; systemic effects are variable and not specific, but may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, and convulsions. Bleeding caused by hemorrhagins is a major clinical effect that can be fatal.

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This species has LD50 values of 2.72 mg/kg intravenous, 20 mg/kg intramuscular and 18.5 mg/kg subcutaneous, which is far less toxic than many other rattlesnakes. However, because of its large venom glands and specialized fangs, the western diamondback rattlesnake can deliver a large amount of venom in a single bite. The average venom yield per bite is usually between 250 and 350 mg, with a maximum of 700-800 mg. Severe envenomation is rare but possible, and can be lethal. Mortality rate of untreated bites is between 10 and 20%.
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Diet and Nutrition

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are carnivores and they are one of the few species of snakes that engage in scavenging behavior. They feed on small mammals such as chipmunks, prairie dogs, voles, woodrats, rabbits, ground squirrels, and also birds, lizards, and even fish.

Mating Habits

Western diamondback rattlesnakes usually mate during the fall. They are viviparous meaning that females give birth to live young. Gestation lasts 6 or 7 months and broods average 10 to 25 young. The snakelets are fully-developed and capable of delivering a venomous bite from the moment they are born. They stay with the mother for only a few hours before they set off on their own to hunt and find cover. Western diamondbacks become reproductively mature when they are 3 years old.

Population

Population threats

There are no major threats to Western diamondback rattlesnakes. However, they do suffer locally from habitat destruction and roadkill. They are also heavily collected from the wild, frequently being drawn out of their hiding places with gasoline and used in rattlesnake roundups (rattlesnake rodeos), where they are killed for food, skins, and entertainment.

Population number

According to IUCN, the Western diamondback rattlesnake is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers are stable.

Ecological niche

Key participants in the food chain, Western diamondbacks are important predators of many small rodents, rabbits, and birds. In turn, they are preyed upon by a variety of larger mammals and birds, such as coyotes, foxes, hawks, and owls.

Fun Facts for Kids

Other common names of these snakes include desert diamond-back, desert diamond rattlesnake, fierce rattlesnake, spitting rattlesnake, buzz tail, Texan rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, and Texas rattler.

Western diamondbacks can go for up to two years without food in the wild.

These snakes can move their rattle back and forth 60 times per second.

The rattle of Western diamondbacks is made up of keratin. It is the same protein that human nails and hair are made of.

A group of rattlesnakes is usually called rhumba.

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About

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Western diamond-backed rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back, Adobe snake, Arizona diamond rattlesnake, coon tail, Western diamondback rattlesnake, Texas diamond-back The western diamondback rattlesnake or Texas diamond-back ( Crotalus atrox ) is a venomous rattlesnake species and member of the Viper family, found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.

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Los animales del desierto para niños - Conoce la naturaleza

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The Most Deadly Snake Of The Egyptian Desert | Wildest Middle East

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Desiertos 101 | National Geographic en Español

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rain forests to the tundra.
Smallest and Largest: The smallest owl in the world is the Elf Owl ( Micrathene whitneyi), which is about 6.1 inches (16 cm) long, has a wingspan of 15 inches (38 cm), and weighs about 1.5 ounces (4g). The largest owls are the Great Gray Owls ( Strix nebulosa) [which are about 33 inches (84 cm) long, have a wingspan of about 5 feet (152 cm), and weigh about 3 pounds (1450 g)], the Eurasian Eagle Owls ( Bubo bubo) [which are about 28 inches (71 cm) long, have a wingspan of about 5.2 feet (160 cm), and weigh up to 9.8 pounds (4200 g)], and the Great Horned Owls ( Bubo virginianus) [which are about 25 inches (63 cm) long, have a wingspan of about 5 feet (152 cm), and weigh about 4 pounds (1800 g)].

Eyes: Owls have a large head and large eyes that face forwards (unlike other birds, whose eyes are on the sides of their head). This eye placement gives them binocular vision and very precise depth perception. Also, there are circles of radiating feathers surrounding each eye, giving them a wide-eyed, alert look.

Owls cannot move their eyes within their sockets like we can. In order to look around, they have to move their entire head, which has a range of movement of about 270°.

Diet: Owls are carnivores (meat-eaters). Most are nocturnal and hunt at night. They use a keen sense of sight to find prey in the dark (owls see mostly in black and white). They have an acute sense of hearing which also helps in finding meals. Owls are stealth hunters; they can easily sneak up on their prey since their fluffy feathers give them almost silent flight. Owls hunt and eat rodents, insects, frogs, and birds. Owls eat smaller prey whole and larger prey in chunks. They regurgitate the inedible parts (including hair, teeth, bone, feathers, and insect exoskeletons) in oval-shaped pellets. The owl is at the top of the food web; it has no major predators.

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Habitat

Elf Owls occupy diverse habitats. In southern Texas, they inhabit brushy thorn forest, characterized by Mexican ash, Texas persimmon, Mexican leadtree, southern hackberry, black willow, Texas cedar elm, mesquites, and acacias. Along the Rio Grande, they use riparian forest with Texas ebony, eastern cottonwood, black willow, and anacua. Desert habitats in western Texas, especially bosques (forests) and arroyos (washes) with honey mesquite and screwbean mesquite, also host this species, as do higher-elevation riparian corridors with willows, ashes, maples, cottonwoods, and walnuts. They may occur up to 5,400 feet elevation in pine-oak-juniper habitat as well. In the Chihuahuan Desert, they may nest in cavities in flower stalks of agave and yucca, or in riparian areas with Rio Grande cottonwood, black willow, Emory oak, gray oak and chinkapin oak. In the Sonoran Desert they use desert ironwood, ocotillo, palo verde, and tall columnar cactus such as saguaro. In the higher canyons, these small owls gravitate toward riparian stands with Arizona sycamore, Fremont cottonwood, and willows, ashes, oaks, junipers, netleaf hackberry, Arizona walnut, Arizona alder, and Chihuahuan pine. Elf Owls tolerate some development within their habitats, even accepting nest boxes in well-treed neighborhoods. In southern Mexico, their winter habitats closely resemble their nesting grounds.
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Food

Unlike other small owls, Elf Owls eat mainly insects and arthropods rather than small mammals or birds. They are acrobatic and agile when foraging, capturing insects in flight, plucking them from vegetation (especially moths at flowers), or snatching them from the ground. With powerful vision and acute hearing, they hunt from low perches, sensitive to the slightest sound or movement, then quickly fly to capture prey with bill or talons. They even chase insects on foot and hang upside down from foliage to dislodge prey. Moths, beetles, and crickets form a large part of the diet, but they also eat grasshoppers, katydids, cicadas, mantids, stick insects, flies, lacewings, bugs, wasps, bees, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, vinegaroons, lizards, snakes, and occasionally rodents. With some prey, such as sphinx moths, wasps, or scorpions, they manipulate it carefully in the bill with their feet to remove unwanted parts such as wings or stingers. Back to top

Nesting

Nest Placement

Nests are set in old woodpecker holes in trees or giant cactus, and sometimes in nest boxes.

Nest Description

Nests are set in old woodpecker holes in trees or giant cactus, and sometimes in nest boxes.

Nesting Facts

Clutch Size:

1-5 eggs

Number of Broods:

1 brood

Egg Length:

1.1-1.2 in (2.7-3 cm)

Egg Width:

0.9-1.0 in (2.3-2.5 cm)

Incubation Period:

24 days

Nestling Period:

28-33 days

Egg Description:

White.

Condition at Hatching:

Hatchlings are covered with thick white down and are unable to sit up.

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Behavior

Elf Owls roost quietly in cavities during the day and are active at night. On their return to nesting areas, they establish territories quickly, with both male and female defending multiple nest holes against intrusions by other birds. Males mark territory around their nest holes with a pleasant yapping call. Their cavities are critical for both nesting and roosting, and if one nest fails, they often use a second for another attempt. During the nesting season, pairs forage over relatively small areas, ranging from one-half acre to 6.4 acres. Elf Owls are typically socially monogamous. They sometimes join other Elf Owls to mob a predator, such as a snake, and they migrate at night in small flocks, probably in family groups. Back to top

Conservation

Elf Owls are relatively common in a variety of wooded and desert habitats along the U.S.-Mexico border, although many of these habitats have no form of protection. Habitat loss owing to development, agriculture, grazing, mining, and other activities has reduced Elf Owl populations. The degree of decline is not well known, and in recent decades, the species appears to have expanded its range in the United States. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 72,000 and rates the species a 13 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of relatively low conservation concern. This species and others would benefit from reforestation of streamside habitats, elimination of grazing in these zones, and control of introduced tamarisk (saltcedar).
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Credits

Lutmerding, J. A. and A. S. Love. (2020). Longevity records of North American birds. Version 2020. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Bird Banding Laboratory 2020.

Partners in Flight. (2020). Avian Conservation Assessment Database, version 2020.

Sibley, D. (2014). The North American Bird Guide. 2nd Edition. Christopher Helm, London, United Kingdom.

Learn more at Birds of the World

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Elf Owl Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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The world's smallest raptor, the diminutive Elf Owl, lives in dry thorn forests, deserts, pine-oak forests, and riparian woodlands of the southern border of the United States and Mexico. Like many of the songbirds in these habitats, Elf Owls nest in old woodpecker holes and similar cavities, which provide relief from heat, shelter from rain, and protection from predators.

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Gila Monster printout. The Gila Monster, Heloderma suspectum, is a large, venomous lizard.

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Burrowing Owl Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Owls are unmistakable birds, and that goes double for a long-legged owl that hunts on the ground during the day. Burrowing Owls are small, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes. They live underground in burrows they’ve dug themselves or taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. They live in grasslands, deserts, and other open habitats, where they hunt mainly insects and rodents. Their numbers have declined sharply with human alteration of their habitat and the decline of prairie dogs and ground squirrels.

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The Gila monster (pronounced ) is a venomous desert lizard. The Gila monster's name comes from the Gila River in Arizona, USA.

The Gila monster is heavy and slow for a lizard. It can grow up to 2 feet(60 cm) long. Its skin looks like beads and is black, pink, orange, and yellow. It looks a lot like the Mexican beaded lizard, which is its closest relative.

The Gila monster can bite quickly and hold on tightly, but it does not kill humans. It usually eats small rodents, young birds and eggs. The lizard chews its prey, injecting its venom ( poison) into the animal through teeth in its lower jaw. The Gila monster can also store food in its tail.

In 2005 a medicine to treat diabetes was made from the Gila monster's saliva. Some people who take it call it "lizard spit" as a joke.

Description, taxonomy and etymology

In this species, the largest extant lizard native to North America north of the Mexican border (non-natives like green iguanas are larger), snout-to-vent length is from 26 to 36 cm (10 to 14 in). The tail is about 20% of the body size and the largest specimens may reach 51 to 56 cm (20 to 22 in) in total length. Body mass is typically in the range of 350 to 700 g (0.77 to 1.54 lb), with 11 males having been found to average 468 g (1.032 lb). Reportedly, the very heaviest, largest specimens can weigh as much as 2,300 g (5.1 lb).

The Gila monster has one close living relative, the beaded lizard ( H. horridum), as well as many extinct relatives in the Helodermatidae, the evolutionary history of which may be traced back to the Cretaceous period. The genus Heloderma has existed since the Miocene, when H. texana lived, and fragments of osteoderms from the Gila monster have been found in late Pleistocene (10,000-8,000 years ago) deposits near Las Vegas, Nevada. Because the helodermatids have remained relatively unchanged morphologically, they are occasionally regarded as living fossils. Although the Gila monster appears closely related to the monitor lizards (varanids) of Africa, Asia and Australia, their wide geographical separation and the unique features not found in the varanids indicate the Gila monster is better placed in a separate family.

The name "Gila" refers to the Gila River Basin in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Arizona, where the Gila monster was once plentiful. Heloderma means "studded skin", from the Ancient Greek words helos (ἧλος), "the head of a nail or stud", and derma (δέρμα), "skin". Suspectum comes from the describer, paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope, who suspected the lizard might be venomous due to the grooves in the teeth.

Distribution and habitat

The Gila monster is found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, a range including Sonora, Arizona, parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico (potentially including Baja California). They inhabit scrubland, succulent desert, and oak woodland, seeking shelter in burrows, thickets, and under rocks in locations with ready access to moisture. In fact, Gila monsters seem to like water and can be observed immersing themselves in puddles of water after a summer rain. They avoid living in open areas such as flats and farmland.

Gila monsters spend 90% of their time underground in burrows or rocky shelters. They are active in the morning during the dry season (spring and early summer); later in the summer, they may be active on warm nights or after a thunderstorm. They maintain a surface body temperature of about 30 °C (86 °F). Gila monsters are slow in sprinting ability, but they have relatively high endurance and maximal aerobic capacity (VO ₂ max) for a lizard. They are preyed upon by coyotes and raptors.

The Gila monster eats small birds, mammals, frogs, lizards, insects, and carrion. The Gila monster feeds primarily on bird and reptile eggs, and eats infrequently (only five to ten times a year in the wild), but when it does feed, it may eat up to one-third of its body mass. It uses its extremely acute sense of smell to locate prey, especially eggs. Its sense of smell is so keen, it can locate and dig up chicken eggs buried 15 cm (6 in) deep and accurately follow a trail made by rolling an egg.

Prey may be crushed to death if large or eaten alive if small, swallowed head-first, and helped down by muscular contractions and neck flexing. Unusually, after food has been swallowed, the Gila monster immediately resumes tongue flicking and search behavior, probably as a result of a history of finding clumped prey such as eggs and young in nests. Gila monsters are able to climb trees and cacti in search of eggs.

Life history

The Gila monster emerges from hibernation in January or February and mates in May and June. The male initiates courtship by flicking his tongue to search for the female's scent. If the female rejects his advances, she will bite him and crawl away.

The female lays eggs in July or August, burying them in sand 5 in (13 cm) below the surface. The clutch consists of two to 12 eggs: five is the average. The incubation lasts nine months, as the hatchlings emerge during April through June the following year. The hatchlings are about 16 cm (6.3 in) long and can bite and inject venom upon hatching. The juveniles typically have larger bands of pink scales than adults, although the banded Gila monster ( H. s. cinctum) has a tendency to retain the band pattern. H. suspectum sexually matures at three to five years old. After egg-laying, adult Gila monsters gradually spend less time on the surface to avoid the hottest part of the summer (although they may be active in the evening), eventually starting their hibernation around November.

Little is known about the social behavior of H. suspectum, but they have been observed engaging in male-male combat, in which the dominant male lies on top of the subordinate one and pins it with its front and hind limbs. Both lizards arch their bodies, pushing against each other and twisting around in an effort to gain the dominant position. A wrestling match ends when the pressure exerted forces them to separate, although bouts may be repeated one after the other. These bouts are typically observed just before the mating season.

Drug research

In 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug exenatide (marketed as Byetta) for the management of type 2 diabetes. It is a synthetic version of a protein, exendin-4, derived from the Gila monster's saliva. The effectiveness is because the lizard protein is about 50% identical to glucagon-like peptide-1 analog (GLP-1), a hormone released from the human digestive tract that helps to regulate insulin and glucagon. The lizard protein remains effective much longer than the human hormone, helping diabetics keep their blood sugar levels under control. Exenatide slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite, contributing to weight loss.

The saliva of the Gila monster contains many chemicals which can be deadly. One of these has been shown to affect memory. Several companies have been researching the abilities of this chemical to help memory loss due to various diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Gilatide, derived from exendin-4, has been shown to dramatically heighten memory in a study with mice. Gilatide is likely to be researched further to provide help to Alzheimer's patients.

Images for kids

Illustration in Animaux venimeux et venins, 1922

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The Gila monster (pronounced ) is a venomous desert lizard. The Gila monster's name comes from the Gila River in Arizona, USA. The Gila monster is heavy and slow for a lizard. It can grow up to 2 feet(60 cm) long. Its skin looks like beads and is black, pink, orange, and yellow.

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Focus on the Burrowing Owl | An interesting insight to one of the world's smallest owl species

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or Canis latrans, coyote, ban

Common Misspellings: Cayote, Coyoti, Coti, Coty, Coute, Caoti, Caoty

About

This is a canine that loves to sing-they make at least 11 different types of vocalizations! Their nickname "song dog" makes a lot of sense, and their Latin name Canis latrans means "barking dog." Coyotes have a lot of personality. Sometimes they seem naughty, and sometimes nice. In Indigenous stories, they're sometimes a notorious trickster and sometimes appear wise. Coyotes are often mistaken for small or medium sized domestic dogs, so look twice and keep your distance to admire them from afar.

Hear coyotes sounds.

Adaptations

These smart, wild dogs are famous for being adaptable when it comes to where they live and what they eat. The coyote can be both independent and a great team player, and they adjust their hunting style based on what foods are available. When they hunt small animals alone, they usually stalk in and then pounce. If the prey is larger, like a deer, they will often hunt in small packs and work together for the kill.

Food Web

Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, which means they will take advantage of any opportunity to eat, or try to eat, just about anything (plant or animal). In the Sonoran Desert, coyotes vary their diet with the seasons. Some of their favorite foods include cactus fruits, mesquite beans, flowers, insects, rodents, lizards, rabbits, birds, and snakes. As a top predator, coyotes play an important role in maintaining balance in an ecosystem's food web.

Habitat and Range

Coyotes are found throughout North America, from Alaska and Canada through the U.S. and Mexico. These adaptable critters live in a variety of habitats. In the Sonoran Desert, coyotes can be found in desert scrub, grasslands, and foothills - as well as in neighborhoods and even big cities!

Family Life

Coyotes have a central den site which is used for rearing pups and sleeping. They will scent mark the area around the den and defend it from other coyotes. The den can be a burrow dug into the ground or under a rock outcropping, tree, or bush. If the area gets disturbed the mother will often move the pups to a safer location.

Glossary

Rearing:

raising and caring for young.

Altruism:

an animal behavior that benefits another, often at its own expense.

Fun Facts

In the wild, coyotes live between 10-14 years. In a zoological setting, they can live as many as 20 years.

Altruism has been observed in coyotes when they bring food to other trapped or injured coyotes.

Coyotes, magpies, and crows will sometimes follow each other to find food. They don't seem to fear or attack each other, but rather work together to get a good meal!

Coyotes and badgers have long been known as hunting partners. There is even evidence that they can be playful and travel together through wildlife tunnels for extra safety! Watch them play on YouTube!

Conservation

Currently coyote populations are stable. They are not listed as threatened or endangered.

At The Museum

View on Map

Visit our Museum coyotes at the Desert Loop Trail! The exhibit is open year-round; the trail is rough terrain, but wheelchair accessible.

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or Canis latrans, coyote, ban Common Misspellings: Cayote, Coyoti, Coti, Coty, Coute, Caoti, Caoty This is a canine that loves to sing-they make at least 11 different types of vocalizations! Their nickname "song dog" makes a lot of sense, and their Latin name Canis latrans means "barking dog."

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carnivore (meat-eater). The coyote is closely related to the wolf. Coyotes probably mate for life; they have 3 to 12 pups each spring. Both parents care for the pups, regurgitating food to help feed them. Coyotes live in small family groups and guard their home territory fiercely.
Habitat and Range: Coyotes live in forests, prairies, mountains, chaparrals, and deserts in much of North America.

Anatomy: Thse mammals have a brown, gray, cream and/or black coat that camouflages them while hunting. Adults weigh from 20 to 50 pounds (9 to 23 kg). They have very good eyesight, acute hearing, and a keen sense of smell.

Hunting and Diet: Coyotes eat rodents, carrion (dead animals that they find), fish, snakes, lizards, grains, and fruit. They swallow food in large chunks, barely chewing it.

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Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages. Click here to learn more. (Already a member? Click here.) carnivore (meat-eater). The coyote is closely related to the wolf. Coyotes probably mate for life; they have 3 to 12 pups each spring.

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🦊 ¿Dónde VIVEN los COYOTES y Cómo se ALIMENTAN Estos CANINOS? - Animales Salvajes

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Snake vs. Roadrunner Face-off | National Geographic

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Kangaroo Rats Are Furry, Spring-Loaded Ninjas | Deep Look

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Kangaroo Rats are small, hopping rodents that are not closely related to kangaroos. There are over 20 types of Kangaroo Rats; they live in deserts and other dry regions in western North America.

These mammals have powerful hind legs which they use to hop, dig burrows and protect themselves from predators (like rattlesnakes). Kangaroo Rats are nocturnal; they are most active at night and spend the hot days in their burrows.

Anatomy: Kangaroo Rats range in size from 9 to 16 inches (23-41 cm) long (including the very long tail). They have very big hind feet, which keep them from sinking into the sand in their desert environment.

Diet: Kangaroo Rats eat mostly seeds. They need very little water; moisture is obtained from their food. They have fur-lined pouches on the sides of their face; they use the pouches to carry food to their burrow.

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Kangaroo Rat Printout. Kangaroo Rats are small desert rodents that hop like kangaroos. They are not closely related to kangaroos.

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Rattlesnake Printout. Rattlesnakes are poisonous snakes with a rattle on the tail. The rattle buzzes before the snake attacks.

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Best of Saguaro National Park | America's National Parks

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The saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea, that can grow to be over 12 meters (40 feet) tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona. Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew Carnegie. In 1994, Saguaro National Park, near Tucson, Arizona, was designated to help protect this species and its habitat.

Saguaros have a relatively long lifespan, often exceeding 150 years. They may grow their first side arm around 75-100 years of age, but some never grow any arms. Arms are developed to increase the plant's reproductive capacity, as more apices lead to more flowers and fruit.

A saguaro can absorb and store considerable amounts of rainwater, visibly expanding in the process, while slowly using the stored water as needed. This characteristic enables the saguaro to survive during periods of drought. The saguaro cactus is a common image in Mexican culture and American Southwest films.

Description

The saguaro is a columnar cactus that grows notable branches, usually referred to as arms. As many as 49 arms may grow on one plant. Saguaros grow from 3-16 m (10-52 ft) tall, and up to 75 cm (30 in) in diameter. They are slow growing, but routinely live 150 to 200 years. They are the largest cactus in the United States.

The growth rate of this cactus is strongly dependent on precipitation; saguaros in drier western Arizona grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson. Saguaros grow slowly from seed, and may be only 6.4 mm ( in) tall after two years. Cuttings rarely root, and when they do, they do not go through the juvenile growth phase, which gives a different appearance. As of 2014 the National Register of Champion Trees listed the largest known living saguaro in the United States in Maricopa County, Arizona, measuring 13.8 m (45 ft 3 in) high with a girth of 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in); it has an estimated age of 200 years and survived damage in the 2005 Cave Creek Complex Fire. The tallest saguaro ever measured was an armless specimen found near Cave Creek, Arizona. It was 78 ft (23.8 m) in height before it was toppled in 1986 by a windstorm. Saguaros are stem succulents and can hold large amounts of water; when rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated, it can weigh between 1,500 and 2,200 kg (3,200 and 4,800 lb).

Saguaros have a very large root network that can extend up to 30 m (100 ft), and long taproots of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) deep.

Saguaros may take between 20 and 50 years to reach a height of 1 m (3 ft 3 in).

As a cactus, it uses crassulacean acid metabolism photosynthesis, which confers high levels of water-use efficiency. This allows the saguaro to only transpire at night, minimizing daytime water loss.

A saguaro without arms is called a "spear".

Some saguaros grow in rare formations called a cristate, or "crested" saguaro. This growth formation is believed to be found in one in roughly 10,000 saguaros, with 2743 known crested saguaros documented. The crest formation, caused by fasciation, creates a seam of abnormal growth along the top or top of the arm of the saguaro.

Inside the saguaro, many "ribs" of wood form something like a skeleton, with the individual ribs being as long as the cactus itself and up to a few centimeters in diameter. The rib wood itself is also relatively dense, with dry ribs having a solid density around 430 kg/m ³ (27 lb/cu ft), which made the ribs useful to indigenous peoples as a building material. While the ribs of dead plants are not protected by the Arizona native plant law, the Arizona Department of Agriculture has released a memo discussing when written permission is needed before harvesting them because of the importance of the decomposition of cactus remains in maintaining desert soil fertility.

The composition of the ribs is similar to that of hardwoods.

The spines on a saguaro are extremely sharp and can grow to 7 cm (3 in) long, and up to 1 mm ( in) per day. When held up to the light or bisected, alternating light and dark bands transverse to the long axis of spines are visible. These bands have been correlated to daily growth. In columnar cacti, spines almost always grow in areoles that originate at the apex of the plant. A spine stops growing in its first season. Areoles are moved to the side and the apex continues to grow upward. Thus, older spines are toward the base of a columnar cactus and newer spines are near the apex. Studies are underway to examine the relationship of carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in the tissues of spines of an individual to its climate and photosynthetic history (acanthochronology).

The spines may cause significant injury to animals; one paper reported that a bighorn sheep skull had been penetrated by a saguaro spine after the sheep collided with a saguaro. They can also cause severe injury to humans, being as sharp and nearly as strong as steel needles. Their long, unbarbed nature means that partially embedded spines can be easily removed, but their relative length can complicate injuries. The spines can puncture deeply, and if broken off, can leave splinters of spine deep in the tissue that can be difficult to remove. Fully embedded spikes are also difficult to remove. Such injuries do not usually result in infection, though, as the cactus spines are generally aseptic. However, spines that remain embedded may cause inflammatory granuloma.

The white, waxy flowers appear in April through June, opening well after sunset and closing in midafternoon. They continue to produce nectar after sunrise. Flowers are self-incompatible, thus requiring cross-pollination. Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination because many ovules are present. This pollen is produced by the extremely numerous stamens, which in one notable case totaled 3,482 in a single flower. A well-pollinated fruit contains several thousand tiny seeds.

Pollination is considered relatively generalized in that multiple species can produce effective pollination when some populations are excluded. Main pollinators are honey bees, bats, and white-winged doves. In most, but not all studies, diurnal pollinators contributed more than nocturnal ones. Honey bees were the greatest contributors. Other diurnal pollinators are birds such as Costa's hummingbird, the black-chinned hummingbird, the broad-billed hummingbird, the hooded oriole, Scott's oriole, the Gila woodpecker, the gilded flicker, the verdin, and the house finch according to studies that examined the relative contributions of diurnal pollinators.

The primary nocturnal pollinator is the lesser long-nosed bat, feeding on the nectar. Several floral characteristics are geared toward bat pollination (chiropterophily): nocturnal opening of the flowers, nocturnal maturation of pollen, very rich nectar, position high above ground, durable blooms that can withstand a bat's weight, and fragrance emitted at night. Claw marks on the flower indicate pollination by a bat.

Flowers grow 8.6-12.4 cm (3.4-4.9 in) long, and are open for less than 24 hours. Since they form only at the top of the plant and the tips of branches, saguaros growing numerous branches is reproductively advantageous. Flowers open sequentially, with plants averaging four open flowers a day over a bloom period lasting a month. In Southern Arizona, saguaros begin flowering around May 3 and peak on June 4. A decline in bat populations causes more daytime flower openings, which favors other pollinators.

The ruby red fruits are 6 to 9 cm ( to in) long and ripen in June, each containing around 2,000 seeds, plus sweet, fleshy connective tissue.

The fruits are often out of reach and are harvested using a pole (made of two or three saguaro ribs) 4.5 to 9 m (15 to 30 ft) long, to the end of which cross-pieces, which can be made of saguaro rib, catclaw, or creosote bush, are attached. This pole is used to hook the fruits or knock them free.

Saguaro seeds are small and short-lived. Although they germinate easily, predation and lack of moisture prevent all but about 1% of seeds from successful germination. Seeds must wait 12-14 months before germination; lack of water during this period drastically reduces seedling survival. The existence of nurse plants is critical to seedling establishment. Palo verde trees and triangle bursage represent important nurse species. They act by regulating temperature extremes, increasing soil nutrients, and reducing evapotranspiration, among others. While nurse plants reduce summer temperature maxima by as much as 18 °C (32 °F), they are more important in raising winter minimum temperatures - as extended frosts limit the range of saguaros.

The saguaro genome is around 1 billion base pairs long. Sequencing has revealed that the genome of the saguaro's chloroplast is the smallest known among nonparasitic flowering plants. Like several other highly specialized plant taxa, such as the carnivorous Genlisea and parasitic , the saguaro has lost the ndh plastid gene, which codes for production of NADPH dehydrogenase pathway, but unlike those taxa, the saguaro remains fully autotrophic; i.e. it does not eat or steal part of its food. The saguaro is remarkable for the scale and completeness of gene loss; essentially no traces of the 11 ndh genes remain in the plastid. The genes appear to have been copied to the nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA, but those copies are non-functional. How the saguaro thrives in a high stress environment without working copies of this fairly important gene remains unknown, but it is possible that the functions of the ndh genes have been taken on by another pathway.

The saguaro is the only species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. The first description of the saguaro was made by William H. Emory in 1848, during his surveys along the pre- Gadsden Purchase United States-Mexican border. This description allowed cactus expert George Engelmann to formally name it, during his work on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, published in 1859. The next major taxonomic treatment came from The Cactaceae, the seminal work on cactus by Nathaniel Lord Britton and Joseph Nelson Rose.

What tribe the saguaro belongs to is a matter of taxonomic dispute. A molecular analysis of the cactus family in 2010 placed the saguaro in the Echinocereinae. The ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network places it in the Echinocereeae.

The generic name honors businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The specific epithet gigantea refers to its formidable size.

Distribution and habitat

Saguaros are endemic to the Sonoran Desert and are found only in western Sonora in Mexico and in southern Arizona in the US, although plants are occasionally found in southeastern California. Elevation is a limiting factor to its environment, as the saguaro is sensitive to extended frost or cold temperatures. No confirmed specimens of wild saguaros have been found anywhere in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, or Nevada, nor in the high deserts of northern Arizona. The northern limits of their range are the Hualapai Mountains in Arizona. They are the northernmost columnar cacti in the Americas.

The saguaro is a keystone species, and provides food, shelter, and protection to hundreds of other species. Every stage of the saguaro's life sustains a significant number of species, from seedling to after its death.

The saguaro provides voluminous amounts of pollen, nectar, and fruits. The fruits are eaten by the white-winged dove and ants, so that seeds rarely escape to germinate. White-winged doves are important pollinators, visiting blooms more often than any other bird species. For desert white-winged doves, 60% or more of their diet is saguaro-based. Their breeding cycle coincides with that of the saguaro blooming.

Gila woodpeckers and gilded flickers create holes in the cactus to make nests, which are later used by other birds, such as elf owls, purple martins, and house finches. Flickers excavate larger holes higher on the stem compared to Gila woodpeckers. The resulting nest cavity is deep, and the parents and young are entirely hidden from view. The saguaro creates callus tissue on the wound. When the saguaro dies and its soft flesh rots, the callus remains as a so-called saguaro boot, which was used by natives for storage.

Gila woodpeckers ( Melanerpes uropygialis) create new nest holes each season rather than reuse the old ones, leaving convenient nest holes for other birds, such as elf owls, tyrant flycatchers, and wrens. In recent years, early breeding, aggressive, non-native birds have taken over the nests to the detriment of elf owls that breed and nest later. In 2020, a bald eagle was found nesting in a saguaro for the first time since 1937.

Conservation

Harming or vandalizing a saguaro in any manner, such as shooting them (sometimes known as "cactus plugging") is illegal by state law in Arizona. When houses or highways are built, special permits must be obtained to move or destroy any saguaro affected. Exceptions to this general understanding exist; for example, a private landowner whose property is 10 acres (4 hectares) or less, where the initial construction has already occurred, may remove a saguaro from the property. This is common when the cactus falls over in a storm, its location interferes with a house addition, or it becomes a potential hazard to humans.

In 1982, a man was killed after damaging a saguaro. David Grundman was shooting and poking at a saguaro cactus in an effort to make it fall. An arm of the cactus, weighing 230 kg (500 lb), fell onto him, crushing him and his car. The trunk of the cactus then also fell on him. The Austin Lounge Lizards wrote the song "Saguaro" about this death.

Contrary to published statements, no law mandates prison sentences of 25 years for cutting a cactus down; however, it is considered a class-four felony with a possible 3-year, 9-month maximum sentence.

Invasive species, such as buffelgrass and Sahara mustard, pose significant threats to the Sonoran Desert ecosystem by increasing the rate of fires. Buffelgrass outcompetes saguaros for water, and grows densely. It is also extremely flammable, but survives fire easily due to deep root systems. Saguaros did not evolve in an environment with frequent fires, thus are not adapted to fire survival. Most Sonoran desert ecosystems have a fire return interval greater than 250 years; buffelgrass thrives at fire return intervals of two to three years. This has led to the reshaping of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and threatens the survival of the saguaro.

Climate change will threaten saguaros and their ecosystems, as deserts are particularly susceptible to climate effects. Rising daytime and nighttime temperatures will reduce the water use efficiency of saguaros, forcing them to use more water and making them more likely to die during drought periods.

Ethnobotany

The utility of the saguaro was well known to Native Americans such as the Tohono Oʼodham, Pima, and Seri peoples, who still use nearly every part of the plant. The fruit and seeds are edible, being consumed fresh and dried, and made it into preserves and drinks. The Tohono O'odham use long sticks to harvest the fruits, which are then made into a variety of products including jams, syrups, and wine. The Tohono O'odham begin their harvest in June. A pair of saguaro ribs, about 6 m (20 ft) long, is bundled together to make a harvesting tool called a kuibit. The Tohono O'odham traditionally reduce the freshly harvested fruit into a thick syrup through several hours of boiling, as the fresh fruit does not keep for long. Four kilograms (9 pounds) of fruit will yield about 1 liter ( U.S. gallon) of syrup. Copious volumes of fruit are harvested; an example harvest in 1929 yielded 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) among 600 families.

The seeds are ground into meal or eaten raw, but the raw seeds are mostly indigestible. They are also pressed for their oils. They also have minor use in the tanning of leather. In modern times, these uses have declined, and the seeds are now mainly used as chicken feed.

The ribs of the dead saguaro were used for construction and other purposes by Native Americans. The Tohono O'odham use it for making fences and furniture. The ribs are also used as livestock fodder.

A variety of alkaloids, including carnegine, gigantine, and salsolidine, make the stems quite bitter, and an unpalatable way to gain water.

Reports of saguaro use date back to the Coronado expeditions of 1540-1542, which noted its use in winemaking.

The old bird nests resist the elements and are gathered by Native Americans for use as storage vessels. Cactus boots, excavated by gilded flickers and taken from dead saguaros, have been used by native peoples as water containers.

The saguaro features prominently in indigenous folklore and religions.

Arizona made the saguaro blossom its territorial flower on March 13, 1901, and on March 16, 1931, it became the state flower.

The saguaro is often used as an emblem in commercials and logos that attempt to convey a sense of the Southwest, even if the product has no connection to Arizona or the Sonoran Desert. For instance, no naturally occurring saguaros are found within 400 kilometers (250 miles) of El Paso, Texas, but the silhouette is found on the label of Old El Paso brand products. Though the geographic anomaly has lessened in recent years, Western films once enthusiastically placed saguaros in the Monument Valley of Arizona, as well as New Mexico, Utah, and Texas. The Dallas, Texas-based band Reverend Horton Heat pokes fun at this phenomenon in their song "Ain't no Saguaro in Texas".

Images for kids

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The saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea ) is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea , that can grow to be over 12 meters (40 feet) tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California.

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