Home›Ferns and Fern Allies›Ecosystem›Chihuahuan DesertEcosystemChihuahuan DesertDesertReference and ClassificationThoroughly VerifiedThe Chihuahuan Desert is a desert ecoregion covering roughly 502,000 square kilometers of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, and is often described as the largest hot desert in North America. It spans both true hot desert and semi-arid steppe climate zones. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/FactsChihuahuan DesertConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClassificationBiogeographic RealmWell-attestedNearctic 1Protected StatusWell-attestedPartially Protected 2Large-scale biome/ecoregion spanning many jurisdictions: it contains formally protected reserves and parks alongside unprotected land, so no single stronger category applies to the region as a whole.Area (sq km)Well-attested501,896 1Water TypeWell-attestedTerrestrial 1Chihuahuan DesertFilter Results2 entriesCommon GroupAllSpikemosses (Selaginella) (2)Everyday GroupAllSpikemosses (Selaginella) (2)HabitatAllDesert (2)Where It LivesAllAfrica (1)Costa Rica (1)El Salvador (1)North America (1)Conservation StatusAllNot Evaluated (1)DietAllPhotosynthetic Autotroph (2)System (Realm)AllTerrestrial (2)Living or ExtinctAllYes (2)Relationship to PeopleAllUsed in Traditional Medicine (2)CITES AppendixAllNot Listed (1)NatureServe RankAllG4 Apparently Secure (1)TaxonomyAllLycopodiopsida (2)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 2Resurrection PlantChihuahuan DesertSelaginella LepidophyllaChihuahuan DesertConnectionsDemonstratesFlash Flood, Natural Phenomena Well-attested Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationtier 1HostsAgave victoriae-reginae, Species Well-attested Source Agave victoriae-reginae (Wikipedia)Astrophytum capricorne, Species Well-attested Source Astrophytum capricorne (Wikipedia)Blow Fly, Species Well-attested Source Calliphoridae, WikipediaBolson Tortoise, Species Well-attested Source Bolson Tortoise (Wikipedia)tier 2Desert bighorn sheep, Species Well-attested Source Desert bighorn sheep (Wikipedia)Eastern Copperhead, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Eastern copperheadEchinocactus horizonthalonius, Species Well-attested Source Echinocactus horizonthalonius (Wikipedia)Ferocactus pilosus, Species Well-attested Source Ferocactus pilosus (Wikipedia)Giant Desert Centipede, Species Well-attested Source Scolopendra heros - WikipediaGoldman's woodrat, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web: Neotoma goldmani, Goldman's woodratGreater Roadrunner, Species Well-attested Source World Wildlife FundMammillaria luethyi, Species Well-attested Source Mammillaria luethyi (Wikipedia)Pelecyphora sneedii, Species Well-attested Source Pelecyphora sneedii (Wikipedia)Resurrection Plant, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Selaginella lepidophyllatier 2Ringtail, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Ring-tailed Cattier 2Selaginella Lepidophylla, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Selaginella lepidophyllatier 2Texas antelope squirrel, Species Well-attested Source Texas antelope squirrel (Wikipedia)Turbinicarpus valdezianus, Species Well-attested Source Turbinicarpus valdezianus (Wikipedia)In BiomeDesert, Biomes Well-attested Source Chihuahuan Desert (Wikipedia)tier 2In the Other AtlasesFound InMexicoAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.United StatesAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.Sources1. Chihuahuan Desert (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikipedialead sectionThe Chihuahuan Desert (Spanish: Desierto de Chihuahua, Desierto Chihuahuense) is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States.Biogeographic realm: nearctic (derived from location stated in entity description)Lead paragraphis a desert ecoregion designationView the Source2. World Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife FundProtected Status: Partially ProtectedView the SourceBolson Tortoise (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaHosts: Bolson Tortoise, IntroductionQuote, Hosts: Bolson Tortoise, IntroductionIt lives in a region of the Chihuahuan Desert known as the Bolsón de Mapimí, which is located in north-central Mexico.View the SourceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationtier 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDemonstrates: Flash FloodView the SourceWikipedia: Selaginella lepidophyllatier 2WikipediaHosts: Selaginella Lepidophylla, Wikipedia intro: "ericho) is a species of desert plant in the spikemoss family (Selaginellaceae). It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the United States and Mexico. S. lepido..."Hosts: Resurrection Plant, Distribution and habitatIt is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the United States and Mexico.View the SourceAstrophytum capricorne (Wikipedia)Hosts: Astrophytum capricorne, Wikipedia intro: "ns. This species is designated as of "least concern" by the IUCN as it is widely distributed in the Chihuahuan desert."View the SourceAgave victoriae-reginae (Wikipedia)Hosts: Agave victoriae-reginae, Wikipedia intro: "oloured flowers are borne in erect racemes up to 4m in length. A. victoriae-reginae is found in the Chihuahuan Desert in the Mexican States of Coahuila, Durango..."View the SourceEchinocactus horizonthalonius (Wikipedia)Hosts: Echinocactus horizonthalonius, Wikipedia intro: "meloncillo. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it occurs in Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert habitats, particularly o..."View the SourceAnimal Diversity Web: Neotoma goldmani, Goldman's woodratAnimal Diversity WebHosts: Goldman's woodrat, Geographic RangeQuote, Hosts: Goldman's woodrat, Geographic Rangethe Chihuahuan desert to northeastern Queretaro.View the SourcePelecyphora sneedii (Wikipedia)Hosts: Pelecyphora sneedii, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Pelecyphora sneedii, Distribution and habitatIt is native to the Chihuahuan Desert, where it occurs in scattered locations in New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua.View the SourceMammillaria luethyi (Wikipedia)Hosts: Mammillaria luethyi, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Mammillaria luethyi, Distribution and habitatMammillaria luethyi is found in the Chihuahuan Desert in the north of the Mexican state of CoahuilaView the SourceWikipedia: Ring-tailed Cattier 2WikipediaHosts: Ringtail, Range and habitat, ChihuahuanQuote, Hosts: Ringtail, Range and habitat, Chihuahuanand the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico, Texas, and northern MexicoView the SourceTurbinicarpus valdezianus (Wikipedia)Hosts: Turbinicarpus valdezianus, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Turbinicarpus valdezianus, DistributionThis species thrives in the Chihuahuan Desert and Meseta Central matorral of Mexico, ranging from Saltillo in the state of Coahuila to nearly Matehuala in San Luis Potosí, at 1400 to 1600 meters elevation.View the SourceTexas antelope squirrel (Wikipedia)Hosts: Texas antelope squirrel, HabitatQuote, Hosts: Texas antelope squirrel, Habitatincluding in the Chihuahuan DesertView the SourceScolopendra heros - WikipediaHosts: Giant Desert Centipede, article text (ecosystem), EntityId 285527, target E266738Quote, Hosts: Giant Desert Centipede, article text (ecosystem), EntityId 285527, target E266738Although this species is commonly referred to as the "giant desert centipede" because of its presence in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, and other arid and semi-arid habitats, S. heros is also found in rocky woodland areas, suView the SourceCalliphoridae, WikipediaHosts: Blow Fly, PredatorsQuote, Hosts: Blow Fly, PredatorsIn the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico, a fungus, Furia vomitoriae (Rozsypal) Humber (1989) (from the family of Entomophthoraceae) affects bluebottle flies.View the SourceDesert bighorn sheep (Wikipedia)Hosts: Desert bighorn sheep, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Desert bighorn sheep, DistributionThe range of the desert bighorn sheep includes habitats in the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert, as well as the Colorado Plateau.View the SourceFerocactus pilosus (Wikipedia)Hosts: Ferocactus pilosus, DistributionQuote, Hosts: Ferocactus pilosus, DistributionThe cactus is endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert, located in northeastern Mexico.View the SourceWikipedia: Eastern copperheadHosts: Eastern Copperhead, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Eastern Copperhead, Distribution and habitatIn the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas and northern Mexico, it occurs in riparian habitats, usually near permanent or semipermanent water and sometimes in dry arroyos (brooks).View the SourceTake a Related QuizWetlands, Reefs and Deltas: New EcosystemsCovers this kind of entry.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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