Desert Life

Desert Life. Saguaro National Park. The Sonoran Desert can be described as a “desert jungle” because more than 200 species of animals and 600 species of plants live here. Saguaros---with their branching arms and accordion-like pleats, dominate this scene. Intermixed with these cacti are other common plants such as teddy bear chollas, creosote bushes, and ocotillos. , Notice how saguaros and these other plants have adapted to extreme heat and drought. The saguaro’s main stem and arms expand to hold water collected through its roots. The cholla’s cluster of spines shades and protects its skin. Creosote and ocotillo leaves drop during dry times and sprout again when the soil is moist., Desert animals---coyotes, snakes, javelinas, and rodents, take shelter during times of extreme heat and cold. Kangaroo rats and ground squirrels protect themselves underground. Look for evidence of their burrows as you walk through this desert habitat., (Key to animals and plants) , 1. Western diamondback rattlesnake; 2. Ocotillo; 3. Gamble quail; 4. Round-tailed ground squirrel; 5. Saguaro; 6. Kangaroo rat; 7. Desert tortoise; 8. Roadrunner; 9. Coyote; 10. Javelina; 11. Teddy bear cholla; 12. Prickly peat cactus; 13. Desert cottontail; 14. Creosote bush; 15. Night-blooming cereous.