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Sonoran Desert

Terms in this set (122)

(IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EDIT PASSWORD IS 1234) Found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert (endemic). Can live as long as 150 - 200 years. Very slow growing - 10yr old only 1.5 inches tall. One deep root, tap root that extends down into the ground more than 2 feet. Hint: the larges cactus in the USA.

Over 200 million years ago, the original logs were washed into an ancient river system and buried quickly by sediment so that oxygen was cut off and decay was slowed to a process that would take centuries. Minerals such as silica were absorbed into the porous wood over hundreds and thousands of years and crystalized within the cellular structure, replacing the organic material.

Probably one of the oldest gemstones known, this rock is an opaque, blue-to-green semiprecious stone. Only the prized robin's egg blue color is used to make gemstones. The majority of the world's finest-quality stone comes from western and southwestern United States.

Builds home in saguaros or other cactus to beat the heat. Lives in desert scrub. Eats insects, spiders and some fruit. Can survive without freestanding water.
Hint: white eye stripe

Arizona Ridged-nosed Rattle Snake

The small brown snake is one of the most primitive rattlesnakes found in this country. Characterized by the strong white facial stripes and the distinctive ride along each side of its nose, the snake inhabits moist pine-oak canyons. It is well camouflaged and the venom it not potent to humans.

Palo Verde Tree

Spanish for green stick, the plant has little leaves and when in blossom the flower are bright yellow. The green bark contains chlorophyll, allowing it to carry on photosynthesis. This plants is the primary nurse plant for young saguaro cactus and the seeds have been used for years as food (flour, seeds) for natives.

Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly

This large butterfly is only found west of the Mississippi in North America. It has yellow to orangish-yellow wings edged thickly with black. Each wing has 4 almost parallel stripes. The hindmost part of each wing has a curved row of blue patches and below the blue are several bars or spots of orange. The two tails extend from the rear of the hindwing.

These flowers are usually found near the tops of the stems and arms of the cactus. They are white in color and about 3 inches in diameter. By night they are pollinated by bats. By day they are pollinated by bees and birds.

Arizona Tree Frog

(He is greener in example picture) small amphibian which is only ¾ to 2inches long. It is usually green but can also be gold to bronze in color with a whitish belly. They have a dark stripe that starts at the snout, runs through the eye, and extends along its body to just before the rear legs. It may also have spots or bars on its back. Found in the mountains of Arizona.

The ringtail is a mammal of the raccoon family (not actually a cat) and is native to Arizona. It is buff to dark brown in color with white underparts and a flashy black and white striped tail which is longer than the rest of its body. It has large black eyes surround by a patch of light fur.

This is a freshwater fish in the salmon family order. It is one of the Pacific trout fish. Its body color is olive-yellow body, with a yellow or golden belly. Moderate-sized black spots are spaced evenly across the body, head and fins. Fins are tipped with white or orange color. Two black spots are located horizontally on the eye fore and aft of the pupil, creating a black band through the eye. It is one of only two species of trout native to Arizona.

The caterpillar (larvae) of the two-tailed swallowtail butterfly is light green and marked near the head with four yellow dots and two yellowish eyespots with blue centers. The "neck" of the caterpillar is banded with black and yellow, and the body has several rows of tiny blue dots. The caterpillar turns brownish or reddish just prior to pupation. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of a variety of trees and shrubs, adults drink flower nectar.

This mammal is yellow/brown to cream colored and has large ears (almost half as long as the total length of the body). They do not migrate but hibernate during the cold season. They catch their food almost exclusively on the ground as opposed to while in flight. They can eat half of their body weight in one meal. They can live up to 10 years and have a wingspan of up to 16 inches.

This reptile is small and slender reaching 13 to 21 inches in length. Can be identified by its bright thick bands of red and black with bright white or yellow between each. It is carnivorous, and is normally seen after sundown. "Red touch yellow, harmful fellow."

Desert Tortoise

Usually brown or dark tan this animal has powerful limbs and claws to dig burrows underground (up to six feet deep!). They have high domed shells used for protection. They commonly eat wildflowers, grasses and cacti. They can live up to 80 years and grow to weigh at most 15 pounds. They are an endangered species mostly due to human activity. They spend 98% of their time underground.

Black Phoebe Flycatcher

This small, plump songbird has a matte black body with a stark white belly and grey tipped wings. Their diet consists of insects. They build nests by using mud to build a cup shape against walls, overhangs, and bridges.

Black Widow Spider

This venomous arachnid is non-aggressive and only bites when provoked. The venom is known to be 15 times stronger than a Rattlesnake. The female is known to eat its male partner after mating. They are solitary and are recognized by the red hourglass shape on their abdomen.

Collared Lizard

This medium-sized reptile has two distinct, black collar markings on its neck. They are usually gray/brown with yellow/orange accents and light dots on hind limbs. They are commonly found in the bajada. They hibernate during the cold months. They eat insects, spiders, and smaller lizards and will bite if captured.

This hardy animal can withstand conditions that other bats cannot which allows it to be found in many different habitats and locations. They eat insects, particularly beetles. They live up to 20 years. They weigh up to 1.22 ounces and their wingspan is up to 16 inches. One of the fastest bats reaching up to 40 mph.

There are over 300 species of this succulent reported. The flowers produced from these plants have both male and female parts. This plant produces a musky scent that attracts bats (their most common pollinator). Can be identified by long stems, with very sharp spines shooting skyward with a larger growth of leaves at the base.

This shrubby evergreen perennial has long, arching stems lined with fleshy, gray-green leaves. Broad clusters of chartreuse flowers occur at the branch tips in the winter and early spring.

A flowering shrub is native to gravelly washes and rocky slopes of the Sonoran Desert. The flowers are tubular and red, occurring in clusters at the ends of stems from spring to fall and are irresistible to hummingbirds. The plant takes its common name from the Spanish word for hummingbird. Being an evergreen it keeps its leaves throughout the year.

Sometimes called the "armored knight", this plant is covered in needle-like spines. It is considered a noxious weed. At the top of stems blooms a flower surrounded by spiny leaves. These flowers are most commonly purple, pink, or white. Seeds can lie dormant for up to nine years, waiting for appropriate rainfall to germinate.

This shrub is native to the southwest US and northern Mexico. It can grow up to 7 feet high. It has leathery leaves and flowers a cluster of small white/yellow flowers. The oil produced by this plant is used in many cosmetic products and medicines.

California Palm

Nestled into a steep, narrow canyon you may find a grove of these palms. These are probably the most widely cultivated palm in the urban areas of the Sonoran Desert. They are a favored nest site for Peach-face Lovebirds. They produce panicles of small white flowers in June.

A loose, branching cluster of flowers that usually grows at the end of a stem or a shoot. They are very common in the natural world and come in a wide array of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are made up of a number of small branching stemlets, each which carries one of more flowers. (Ex: grasses - rice, oats, rye and in palm trees etc)

This tree is native to North America. It is a riparian zone tree. This tree is a great indicator of the presence of water. They cannot survive without proper moisture. These large deciduous tree has a thick deeply fissured bark and diamond-shaped leaves that turn yellow in the fall.

(CHECK BOOK FOR PICTURE) An upright succulent with thick, jointed and sometimes branched, light green stems that grow from a woody root crown. The stems are often coated with a thick waxy film, resulting in a frosted appearance. Small, oval-shaped leaves appear, only to drop quickly as they are drought deciduous. The native people cooked the stems to obtain wax to make candles.

This is North America's littlest falcon but packs a predator's fierce intensity into its small body. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, this falcon can be seen perched on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place. This beautiful falcon is declining in parts of their range due to habitat destruction.

Ghostly pale and strictly nocturnal, these medium-sized owls are silent predators of the night world. Rounded head with white facial disc & large black eyes, white chest, and belly, and buffy upperparts, this owl roosts in hidden, quiet places during the day. By night, they hunt on buoyant wingbeats in open fields and meadows. You can find them by listening for their eerie, raspy calls, quite unlike the hoots of other owls. Diet consists of small mammals.

These charming little owls live and raise their young underground. They are the only known owl that lives underground. Small in size and active both day and night, this little owl is vulnerable to mammals and other birds. Burrowing owl populations are decreasing in size due to loss of nesting habitat from increasing human development.

Great Horned Owl

This powerful predator with its long, earlike tufts and intimidating yellow-eyed stare, can take down birds and mammals larger than itself, but it also dines on daintier fare such as tiny scorpions, mice, and frogs. It's one of the most common owls in North America, equally at home in deserts, wetlands, forests, grasslands, backyards, cities, and almost any other semi-open habitat.

The smallest of owls. Their feathers are grayish brown, eyes are pale yellow and are highlighted by thin white "eyebrows". They have excellent night vision and excellent hearing. They can catch their prey in complete darkness, by using their ears rather than eyes. They have "silent flight" which because the sound of their wing beat is muffled by softened feathers on the leading edges of their wings.

A nocturnal omnivore famous for their ability to spray a fluid so noxious that it can stop a predator in its tracks. The great horned owl is its major predator because the owl has no sense of smell. They can shoot their fluid up to about 12 feet. The bold black and white patterns is easily seen at night acting as a warning and advertising its presence. They build their own dens, but often share dens of other animals, like the pack rat. They eat beetles, seeds, fruit or anything.

This is a large dark bird with long, broad wings. They have a featherless red head and pale bill. While most of their body and forewing are dark, the undersides of the flight feathers are paler, giving a two toned appearance. This unsteady soarer rides thermals to higher vantage points. They soar in small groups and roost in larger numbers.

This medium-large bird of prey often is seen hunting cooperatively in packs consisting of family groups while most other raptors hunt alone. They have dark brown plumage with chestnut shoulders, wing and thighs, white on the base and tip of the tail, long, yellow legs and a yellow beak. Their diet consists of small creatures including birds, lizards, mammals and large insects. Not only do these birds cooperate in hunting, they also assist in the nesting process.

Red-Tailed Hawk

One of the largest, most common raptors in North America. This hawk soars above open areas, slowly turning circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you'll see them atop telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit. Mammals make up the bulk of this Hawks diet. They are usually rich brown above and pale below, with a streaked belly. The tail is usually a cinnamon-red color.

Costa's Hummingbird

Among the smallest of birds, the wings create a humming sound when they beat at 50 - 200 times per second. This bird has a light green back and an iridescent purple crown and throat flaring around and out. The flared out pattern is the distinguishing mark of this small bird. When perched they whistle. Their quick and zigzagging flight requires them to eat often.

Anna's Hummingbird

A small bird that lives in a wide variety of habitats lives on nectar from various flowers using a long extendable tongues or catches small insects. The nest is small and cup-shaped, line with soft materials such as human or animal hair, spider web fibers and feathers. They live about 8 years. The male has a metallic green back, dark red head and throat and a grayish colored breast.

A small, common bird found in trees, lawns and urban areas. Eat plant materials including seeds buds and fruit. The male has a red head and breast with a brown and tan striped body. This small bird is very active and vocal.

Northern Cardinal

A fairly large, long-tailed songbird with a short, very thick bill and prominent crest. Males are brilliant red all over, with a reddish bill and black face. Females are pale brown. They sit low in shrubs and trees foraging on the ground, often in pairs. Their bill is made for cracking seeds. These birds do not migrate or molt.

One of two venomous lizards, it bites quickly and hold on tenaciously. They are as toxic as the western diamondback rattlesnake. They are black with pink or orange bands broken up to form a reticulated pattern. Most of their lives are hidden below the ground. They live in rocky areas near washes & arroyos. They prey on small animals such as birds, mammals, eggs, lizards, insects, etc

A stocky wide-bodied lizard with a flattened midsection and prominent belly. Their tails are thick, tapering to a blunt tip. Loose folds of skin characterize the neck and sides of the body, which is covered in small, coarsely granular scales. Harmless to humans, these diurnal animals are ectothermic. Herbivorous, feed on leaves, fruit and flowers.

A stocky, heavy-bodied animal that can go for extended periods without drinking water. Their unique concave elastic hooves, they are able to climb the steep, rocky terrain of the desert mountains with speed and agility. They rely on their keen eyesight to detect potential predators. They develop horns soon after birth and the horn grow throughout their life. They eat mainly grasses, cacti and other shrubs.

Pronghorn Antelope

On the brink of extinction, this animal is found in the alluvial valleys, separated by mountains & mesas. Standing less than 3 feet and weight between 90 - 190 pounds, they are a rich tan color with two bands across their neck which are white. Their eyes are set high on their heads, and are very large. They have very special horns which curve back at the ends. They can run up to 60 miles per hour.

Medium to large lizards with snout-vents. The robust lizards have pointed scales that are gray, tan or blue with a striking wide, purple strip down the back and single yellow scales scattered on the sides. They have a dark collar under or around the neck with a vivid blue throat and under-belly. Lives in rocky areas.

This tree only grows in the washes and valleys where water is available. They are from the pea family and their leaves and flowers resemble those of the sweetpea. They're the tallest trees in the Sonoran desert. They usually grow as small, sparse trees, with gray-green leaves, and wide, spreading crowns. They are one of the longest living trees in the Sonoran Desert. This tree provides food and shelter plants and animals need to survive. It alters the environment around itself, and creates a micro-habitat.

The largest cat in the Desert who at birth has a spotted coat, but as an adult is a plain tawny or grayish-brown color with a black-tipped tail. The cat itself can be over 6 feet long with heavy legs and large feet. A shy and elusive cat is a master of camouflage. A superbly adapted predator who is a carnivore is an essential part of the desert ecosystem.

A common cat widely distributed in the desert is a carnivore and hunts small prey such as jack rabbits, squirrels birds etc. It can easily adapt to marginal habitats. A solitary cat avoid other cats. A good climber, retreating to trees for safety, but it prefers to hunt on the ground. Mostly nocturnal, it is secretive and shy usually keeping to thick vegetated areas.

Desert Milkweed

This plant is often found along desert washes and sandy flats. It is considered a medicinal plant. It forms a clump of numerous slender, erect, gray- green stems that arise from a woody base. It serves as a nectar source for the adult butterflies, as well as a food source for their caterpillars.

It is named for its prominent front legs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer. This insect, which is a carnivore, are formidable predators. They have a triangular head posed on a long elongated thorax. They can swivel its head nearly 180 degrees to spot potential prey. They use their front legs to snare their prey with reflexes so quick that they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies and other insects are the unfortunate recipients.

These are some of the most common birds and their constant presence outside makes them easy to see. Brightly colored with gray heads, white cheeks, black bib, and rufous neck. They are noisy birds that flutter down from eaves and hop and peck at crumbs or birdseed. Look for them flying in and out of nest holes hidden behind shop signs or in traffic lights.

Monarch Butterfly

This is the most familiar North American butterfly. Its wings feature an easily recognizable orange and black pattern. Females have darker veins on their wings, and the male have a spot in the center of each hind wing. They have six legs, but uses the four hind legs as it carries its two front legs against its body. They migrate over hundreds to thousands of miles. The larvae eat only milkweed.

This widely recognized insect due to its size and unique sound has prominent eyes set far apart, wings that are well-developed, with conspicuous veins and a dark, thick body. They live in trees or plant stems. Many times their remaining shell can be found in tact. They can cause damage to crops, shrubs and trees. Many people around the world eat this insect.

A heavy-bodied anima with a black face mask edged in white and a bushy. They prefer riparian habitats, and brushy and wooded areas to live. They are omnivores feeding on fruit, nuts, insects, eggs and fish but they will eat almost anything. They use their front paws to feel for food items in murky water or leaf litter. They are nocturnal and usually solitary.

This diurnal animal has a very long nose and a facial mask. Its long tail is not distinctly ringed. They live in canyons moving from high elevations to lower riparian canyons with the changing of the season. They eat grubs, beetles and other invertebrates as well as fruits, nuts, eggs, snakes and lizards. They are very social animals, living in bands of females and young. Males are around for mating only.

A fairly common, small brownish red bird in the canyons that nests and feeds in narrow rock crevices. They live among the cliffs, rocky outcrops and boulder piles. They can climb up, down, and across rocks. Their large feet and sharp claws aid in this. They feed on spiders and insects. They are now known to drink water. They get all the water they need from their prey.

White Crowned Sparrow

This bird appears each winter as a migratory bird. The smart black and white head, pale beak, and crisp gray breast bird has a long tail, and can be found low at the edges of brushy habitats, hopping on the ground or on branches usually below waist level. They feed on seeds, fruit, grains and caterpillars, wasps, beetles and other insects.

Black-throated Sparrow

This striking bird has a distinct black and white head pattern with a solid black throat and is often called the Desert Sparrow. This bird is considered a ground forager because it primarily feeds on insects and seeds. They travel in small groups and next in thick brush and bushes.

White Throated Wood Rat

This medium sized rodent has big ears and eyes, and a furry, white and grayish tail. The hairs on its throat are white, while the rest of its body is gray or tawny. Also known as a packrat, the large eyes help it see its way around at night and in its dark burrow. The large ears provide a way to loose body heat during the hot months. They obtain most of the moisture they need through their plant diet.

Bullock's Oriole

This bird is found all over the world but mainly lives in the western USA. They live in any trees and are found perched on branches. They like to eat insects such as caterpillars, berries and nectar. The male is bright orange and black markings and a white wing bar.

A tiny, active songbird of the arid southwest. A very vocal and often conspicuous bird despite its size, it builds a large enclosed nest in thorny scrub. It has a gray body and yellow face. This bird lives in the desert scrub, especially along washes where thorny vegetation is present. They eat insects and spiders. Move actively and nimbly among limbs of scrub vegetation hoping to and fro.

Chained Fruit Cholla

This shrubby cactus sometimes looks like a tree. It has many segmented, irregular drooping branches that are covered with a dense layer of sharp spines. These spines have a straw-colored sheath that reflects sunlight and prevent overheating. Clusters of green, spineless, pear-shaped fruit hang in chains from the branches. It is the largest of the cholla species.

Prickly Pear Cactus

This cactus has flat, fleshy pads that look like large leaves, The pads are modified branches or stems that serve the functions of, water storage, photosynthesis and flower production. They have wart-like projections on their pads/stems that have clusters of fine, tiny, barbed spines. Both the fruit and pads of this cactus are edible. The flowers can be yellow, red or purple.

Totem Pole Cactus

(NO PICTURE) A Cactus named for their multiple tall and cylindrical stalks that have a bumpy surface, sometimes resembling other patterns in nature. The thornless stalks are smooth to the touch and grow in a tight cluster around the base of the original plant. This cactus is highly resistant to heat, and resistant to all but the harshest winters.

Hedgehog Cactus

This cactus is covered in spiky "quills." This cacti require full sun to thrive. It is one of the cactus varieties that features bright-colored flowers. This cactus is cylindrical, or barrel-shaped, in appearance. It occurs in clumps with singular stems. Each stem features spines that emerge from the plant's center. Spines are brown and 2 to 3 inches long. Lives in rocky soil. Various variety and flower colors.

The columnar cactus grows 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide, branching upwards from its strong base at ground level to form thickets. Each stem produces about 5-10 ribs and clusters of areolas with bristle-like gray spines. Hairy beards cover the ends of the spiny stems on some plants, reflecting its common name, which means "old one" in Spanish. In spring, it develops pale pink flowers on upper stems of the plant.

This cactus has a thick shaped body and long hooked spines. Their pineapple-shaped fruits are fairly dry and bitter to the taste. It can reach over a meter in height, and has been known to reach 10 feet in some regions. Its ribs are numerous and pronounced, and the spines are long and can range in color from yellow to tan to red, depending on the age of the plant. They start to bloom in April.

Curve-billed Thrasher

A bird common to the arid Southwest. It occurs in a range of habitats because it's tolerant. This large pale grayish-brown bird, with long tail, and long, curved bill roosts in trees or spiny cactus. The eye is usually a vivid orange or red-orange. They feed on ground-dwelling insects, as well as seeds, and berries. They walk or run on the ground.

Gila Woodpecker

A medium-sized Woodpecker common in the saguaro cactus forests. It has horizontally barred black and white back, mostly a plain brown head and males have a red crown patch. They excavates a nest hole in a saguaro cactus where drying time is required for the inner pulp of the cactus to form a solid casing around the cavity. They eat insects, fruit, seeds, occasional birds' eggs, and lizards.

Greater Roadrunner

A bird born to run, this bird can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert. They reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip, with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs. They spend most of their lives on the ground hunting lizards, small mammals, and birds.

Often mistaken for a dogs because they have a long, bushy black-tipped tail, pointed ears and a narrow pointed face. They adjust their hunting style to what foods are available. When hunting small prey alone, they usually stalk it and then pounce. If prey is larger like a deer, they often hunt in small packs and work together to kill the prey. They are well they adapt to different habitats. They have a central den site which is used for rearing the pups and sleeping.

Northern Mockingbird

A medium sized, gray songbirds that sings almost endlessly, even sometimes at night. They imitate the calls of others birds. They have small heads, a long, thin downward curved bill, and long legs. Overall they are gray-brown, paler on the breast and belly, with two white wingbars on each wing. A white patch in each wing is often visible on perched birds, and in flight these become large white flashes.

Antelope Squirrel

This little mammal is gray in color with some brown on its upper front and back legs. It has a white stripe on its side, a white underbelly and a bushy black tail that it often carries arched over its back. Their tail is often held over their head like an umbrella helping to shade their bodies. They prefer rocky desert habitats that contain cactus and shrubs. They feed on a variety of desert plants and seeds and live in underground burrows.

(BAD PICTURE) This plant arises from a thick root and a scaly, twisted stem base and produces a thick, clumpy stem. As a parasite taking its nutrients from a host plant, it lacks leaves and chlorophyll. It is dark purple in color and coated with glandular hairs. The inflorescence is an elongated array of several flowers. Each flower is tubular, purple and hairy, and up to about 3 cm long. The plant is usually found in sandy flat washes.

Ammobroma Sonorae

(NO PICTURE) This endangered parasitic plant is native to arid regions and largely restricted to dune chains in the Sonoran Desert. Its continued existence is threatened by habitat destruction due to development and recreational activities in the dunes. This plant is gray and mushroom-shaped, and their height depends on the degree to which blowing sand covers the scaly stem. This succulent stem extends 1-2 meters below the sand, and is attached to roots of nearly host plants.

Desert Marigold

The leaves of these plants are spirally arranged, and usually toothed. Both stems and leaves are downy or fuzzy with white hairs on both sides, lobed, veined. The flowers are saucer or cup-shaped, with the stamens joined into a column in the center. The flowers can be orange, pink, apricot and a variation in between. It grows well in alkaline soil, both sandy or clay.

Among the smallest foxes of the Americas, their most conspicuous characteristic being exceptionally large, closely set ears, which help dissipate body heat in their desert environment. They have a slender body, long legs and a very bushy tail, which sticks straight out behind it and is tipped in black. The hair is dense between the footpads, giving the fox better traction on sandy soil of its habitat, while also protecting the paws from the heat of the desert sand. The kangaroo rat is a favorite meal.

(BETTER PICTURE IN BOOK) This triangle-leaf, burr shaped seeded bush is a native plant of the Sonoran Desert and can be found throughout the southwest. Commonly found growing with Palo Verde, Mesquite, Ironwood and a variety of cacti. This bush serves as a nurse plant to many other species. Broomrape is a root parasite on this plant.

Pink Sand Verbana

This flowering perennial plant is native to the western USA. Generally found in sandy, well-drained soil in areas with low precipitation, it can become a striking carpet-like groundcover. In undisturbed areas after winter rains. The flowers occur in clusters with long stems which are often hairy.

This snake is indigenous to desert regions. It grows to about 25 inches long and are approximately the color of sand, which helps them conceal themselves in their desert habitat. They have a broad triangular head, thin neck and thick body. The snake also has little holes knows as pits near their eyes, which function as heat sensor for detecting prey. Also known as the horned rattlesnake.

This critter can be found in many places due to its ability to climb! It can be found in rocks or in rock crevices, but also in trees or high on rock walls. They can also be found inside sinks, bathtubs, climbing walls, or in a dark closet. They have 'hairs' on their legs and other body parts that are sensitive to vibrations in the air. To avoid the extremes heat of the daytime they will shelter in the shade and come out at night to hunt for food. They are predators and consume all types of insects, spiders, and other scorpions. These critters will glow a green color under ultraviolet light.

Desert Hairy Scorpion

The largest scorpion in North America, reaching lengths of 6 inches. Their bodies are brown, with yellowish pinchers and legs. Their common names comes from the brown hairs that cover their bodies. These hairs are used to detect ground and air vibrations. They have a long tail that is tipped with a bulb-like poison gland and stinger as well as large pinchers and four pairs of legs. While the sting is painful the venom is considered mild and has little effect on most humans.

Spotted Whiptail

A long, slender lizard with pointed snouts and extremely long tail. Color tends to be tan, olive, or brown with lighter stripes and /or spots of yellow or white. They have large, square belly scales arranged lengthwise and transverse rows. They live in desertscrub in rocky, leaf litter.

Pinacate Beetle

This beetle, also known as the stink beetle, is endemic to the Sonoran Desert and adjacent regions. This beetle is noted for its defensive tactic of standing on its head and squirting a noxious spray. This oblong, jet black beetle is abundant in the sand dunes. Most animals avoid contact with it due to its ability to produce a stinky secretion... Grasshopper mice, burrowing owls, skunks and the loggerhead shrikes are its main predators.

Common Desert Centipede

(Not Same Picture but only centipede) Identified by their flattened body made of many segments they have one pair of legs for each segment except for the first and last segments. One pair of antennae are located on the head. It is usually tan and brown. They inject venom into their prey by using a pair of pincer-like appendages in front of the legs. They are carnivores eating such foods as insects, lizards, frogs, and rodents. They spend their time underground or under rocks, bricks, potted plants, etc. concealed from the sun.

Dwarf Bottle Brush

A hardy plant that does great in full sun with low to average water needs. The bottle brush shaped flowers are bright red attracting bees, birds and butterflies. It is an evergreen shrub that is drought-tolerant and frost resistant up to 25 degrees.

Delicate brown to buffy-tan overall. Nest in vegetation on the ground, in trees or building ledges. Like to perch on telephone wires. Eats seeds.
Hint: They coo-woo-woo....

This hardworking, hardy plant thrives with little moisture and in full, unyielding sun. It is from the verbena family. The aromatic flowers grow in clusters and are a mix of red, orange, yellow blues and white florets. This abundance of color all season long is a magnet for butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.

Rock Dove (Pigeon)

Mexican Bird of Paradise

White-winged Dove

Found in all desert habitats. Obtain needed moisture from saguaro cactus fruit. Eat seeds and fruit.
Hint: when wings folded, white strip on leading edge of wing can be seen.

This thorny ornamental vine, bush or tree with flower-like spring leaves near its flowers is not a native species but thrives in the heat of Arizona. The thorns are tipped with a black, waxy substance and the plant itself is an evergreen. The actual flower of the plant is small and generally white with clusters of pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white or yellow bracts (a modified or specialized leaf) surrounding it.

Also called a purple sage, this plants is an evergreen shrub that can tolerant the sun, heat and low water conditions found in the desert. The plant has a soft silver to gray foliage with a beautiful display of long lasting lavender to purple blooms from summer into fall. It is sometimes called the barometer bush because the blooming process is initiated by high humidity or excessive soil moisture.

A low shrub that usually grows 8 to 48 inches tall. The compound leaves are usually made up of four pairs or ¼ inch leaves. They have pink-orange puff balls that can be up to 2 inches in diameter. They bloom all year round. A member of the pea family. They are eaten by many desert animals. They can be found in sandy washes, slopes and mesas.

A common bird in the Southwest. Look for these tubby birds running between cover in suburbs and open desert or posting a lookout on low shrubs. They are plump, volleyball-sized birds with short necks, small bill, and square tail. The wings are short and broad. They walk or run along the ground in groups called coveys that can include a dozen or more birds. They scratch for food under shrubs and cacti, eating grasses and cactus fruits. Flight is explosive, powerful, and short.

A common deciduous shrub in the desert which grows in a roundish mound. The leaves are covered with a thick mat of short hairs giving them a gray-green appearance. The hairy leaf forms a blanket over the leaves acting like an insulating layer against heat and cold, also traps moisture that is in the air, and reduce the amount of water lost to dry air. From March to Jun they flower turning the desert bright yellow. It is a member of the sunflower family.

The leaves of these plants are spirally arranged, and usually toothed. Both stems and leaves are downy or fuzzy with white hairs on both sides, lobed, veined. The flowers are saucer or cup-shaped, with the stamens joined into a column in the center. The flowers can be orange, pink, apricot and a variation in between. It grows well in alkaline soil, both sandy or clay.

Sonoran Desert Toad

Mexican Petunia

Round-tailed ground squirrel

Desert Cardinal

Sonoran Green Toad

Desert Sunflower

This spider wasp hunts tarantulas as food for its larvae. This long blue-black bodied wasp with rust-colored wings is among the largest of wasps. The sting of this wasps is the second most painful in the world. The wasp stings and paralyzes the spider, then drags it back into her burrow or nest where it lays a single egg on the spider's abdomen.

Red-winged Blackbird

HAS A BIG YELLOW PLANT THAT GROW UP

This parasite is found hanging in Mesquite and Palo Verde trees. It gains all of its nutrients from the host plant. This plant has tiny leaves and juicy stems. Its flowers produce white/pink berries that are a great food source for many birds.

Teddy Bear Cholla

This cactus looks like a fuzzy, soft plant with many short, fuzzy branches completely covered with silvery spines. Although the cactus has flowers and forms fruit, the fruit is usually sterile, and the plant relies on the dropped stems to propagate. This cactus blooms from February to May. The greenish-yellow flowers grow at the end of the stems.

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