Home›Species›Ecosystem›Sonoran DesertEcosystemSonoran DesertDesertReference and ClassificationVerifiedThe Sonoran Desert is a hot desert and ecoregion covering roughly 260,000 square kilometers across the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur, and the southwestern United States in Arizona and California. It is often called the most tropical desert in North America for the density and diversity of its plant life, most famously the saguaro cactus. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/FactsSonoran DesertConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesOpen Questions (1 open question)Take a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsClassificationBiogeographic RealmWell-attestedNearctic 1Area (sq km)Well-attested260,000 1Sonoran DesertFilter Results14 entriesCommon GroupAllBirds Of Prey (Raptors) (1)Carnations And Cacti (Caryophyllales) (2)Centipedes and Millipedes (Myriapoda) (1)Lichens (1)Lizards (Lacertilia) (1)Owls (1)Passerines (Songbirds) (1)Scorpions (1)Snakes (Serpentes) (2)True Toads (Bufonidae) (1)TaxonomyAllAccipitriformes (1)Arthropoda (1)Ascomycota (1)Boidae (1)Bovidae (1)Bufonidae (1)Cactaceae (2)Canis (1)Crotalus (1)Helodermatidae (1)Passeriformes (1)Scorpiones (1)Strigidae (1)HabitatAllChaparral (1)Desert (13)Estuary (1)Grassland (2)Lake (1)Mangrove Forest (1)Riparian Zone (1)River (1)Temperate Forest (1)Tundra (1)Wetlands (1)Xeric Shrubland (1)Conservation StatusAllExtinct (1)Least Concern (9)Near Threatened (1)Not Evaluated (2)Everyday GroupAllBirds Of Prey (Raptors) (1)Carnations And Cacti (Caryophyllales) (2)Centipedes and Millipedes (Myriapoda) (1)Lichens (1)Lizards (Lacertilia) (1)Owls (1)Passerines (Songbirds) (1)Scorpions (1)Snakes (Serpentes) (2)True Toads (Bufonidae) (1)DietAllCarnivore (8)Detritivore or Scavenger (1)Herbivore (1)Omnivore (1)Photosynthetic Autotroph (2)System (Realm)AllFreshwater (1)Marine (1)Terrestrial (14)Relationship to PeopleAllAgricultural or Structural Pest (1)Eaten or Drunk by People (2)Hunted or Fished (3)Kept as Pets (2)Natural Pest Control (1)Source of Timber or Wood (1)Used in Traditional Medicine (2)Venomous or Dangerous to Humans (1)Living or ExtinctAllYes (12)Where It LivesAllAfrica (2)Asia (1)Australia (1)Australia (1)Belgium (2)Brazil (1)Central America (1)Colombia (1)Denmark (1)Ecuador (2)Europe (1)India (1)Macaronesia (1)Mexico (8)Netherlands (1)New Zealand (1)North America (13)Norway (3)Oceania (1)Peru (1)Poland (1)Russia (1)Seychelles (1)South America (1)Spain (1)Sweden (1)Taiwan (2)The South Pacific (1)Ukraine (2)United Kingdom (2)United States (5)Venezuela (1)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 14Arizona Bark ScorpionSonoran DesertBald EagleSonoran DesertCoyoteSonoran DesertDesert bighorn sheepSonoran DesertDesert rosy boaSonoran DesertEchinocereus engelmanniiSonoran DesertGiant Desert CentipedeSonoran DesertGila MonsterSonoran DesertLong-eared owlSonoran DesertNorthern MockingbirdSonoran DesertRosette LichenSonoran DesertSaguaro CactusSonoran DesertSidewinderSonoran DesertSonoran Desert ToadSonoran DesertConnectionsDemonstratesMonsoon, Natural Phenomena Well-attested Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationtier 1HostsArizona Bark Scorpion, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Arizona bark scorpionBald Eagle, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Bald Eagletier 2Coyote, Species Well-attested Source Coyote (Wikipedia)tier 2Desert bighorn sheep, Species Well-attested Source Desert bighorn sheep (Wikipedia)Desert rosy boa, Species Well-attested Source Desert rosy boa (Wikipedia)Echinocereus engelmannii, Species Well-attested Source Plants For A Future: Echinocereus engelmanniiGiant Desert Centipede, Species Well-attested Source Scolopendra heros - WikipediaGila Monster, Species Well-attested Source World Wildlife FundLong-eared owl, Species Well-attested Source Long-eared owl (Wikipedia)Northern Mockingbird, Species Well-attested Source Northern Mockingbird (Wikipedia)tier 2Rosette Lichen, Species Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Physciatier 2Saguaro Cactus, Species Well-attested The saguaro is the signature plant of Saguaro National Park, which sits within the Sonoran Desert.Source Nature (Saguaro National Park, National Park Service)Sidewinder, Species Well-attested Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Crotalus cerastesSonoran Desert Toad, Species Well-attested Source Sonoran Desert Toad (Wikipedia)In BiomeDesert, Biomes Well-attested Source Sonoran Desert (Wikipedia)tier 2Open QuestionsOpen Question: Sonoran Desert, Open Questions Well-attested Source Sonoran 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. Sonoran Desert (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikipedialead sectionThe Sonoran Desert (Spanish: Desierto de Sonora) is a hot desert and ecoregion in North America that covers parts of the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur, as well as part of the Southwestern United States (in Arizona and California).Biogeographic realm: nearctic (derived from location stated in entity description)Open Questions: Open Question: Sonoran DesertView the SourceNature (Saguaro National Park, National Park Service)National Park ServiceHosts: Saguaro Cactus, Nature - Saguaro and the Sonoran DesertQuote, Hosts: Saguaro Cactus, Nature - Saguaro and the Sonoran DesertSaguaro National Park is in the Sonoran Desert, which is the most biodiverse desert.View the SourceWorld Wildlife FundWorld Wildlife FundHosts: Gila MonsterView the SourceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationtier 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDemonstrates: MonsoonView the SourceSonoran Desert Toad (Wikipedia)Hosts: Sonoran Desert Toad, Wikipedia intro: "The Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius), (previously Bufo alvarius) also known as the Sonoran Desert toad, is a toad species found in northwestern Mexico an..."View the SourceWikipedia: Arizona bark scorpionHosts: Arizona Bark Scorpion, Lead sectionQuote, Hosts: Arizona Bark Scorpion, Lead sectionThe Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus, once included in Centruroides exilicauda) is a small light brown scorpion common to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.View the SourceScolopendra heros - WikipediaHosts: Giant Desert Centipede, article text (ecosystem), EntityId 285527, target E266733Quote, Hosts: Giant Desert Centipede, article text (ecosystem), EntityId 285527, target E266733 Scolopendra heros, commonly known as the Arizona desert centipede, giant desert centipede, giant Sonoran centipede, Texas black-tailed centipede, Texas redheaded centipede, and giant redheaded centipede, is a species of North AmeView the SourceCoyote (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikimedia FoundationHosts: Coyote, HabitatQuote, Hosts: Coyote, HabitatAs long as it was not in direct competition with the wolf, the coyote ranged from the Sonoran Desert to the alpine regions of adjoining mountains or the plains and mountainous areas of Alberta.View the SourceWikipedia: Bald Eagletier 2WikipediaHosts: Bald Eagle, RangeQuote, Hosts: Bald Eagle, RangeOccupying varied habitats from the bayous of Louisiana to the Sonoran Desert and the eastern deciduous forests of Quebec and New England, northern birds are migratory, while southern birds are resident, remaining on their breeding territory all year.View the SourceNorthern Mockingbird (Wikipedia)tier 2Wikimedia FoundationHosts: Northern Mockingbird, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Northern Mockingbird, Distribution and habitatIn western states such as California, the population was restricted to the Lower Sonoran Desert regions but by the 1970s the mockingbird was residential in most counties.View the SourceWikipedia: Physciatier 2WikipediaHosts: Rosette Lichen, Habitat and distributionQuote, Hosts: Rosette Lichen, Habitat and distributionIn the Sonoran Desert and adjacent areas, Moberg discovered 25 species.View the SourceLong-eared owl (Wikipedia)Hosts: Long-eared owl, MammalsQuote, Hosts: Long-eared owl, MammalsIn the Sonoran Desert of Mexico, nearly all known prey were geomyoids, in particular the Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami), which alone made up 74.7% of the foods.View the SourceDesert rosy boa (Wikipedia)Hosts: Desert rosy boa, Distribution and habitatQuote, Hosts: Desert rosy boa, Distribution and habitatIn Arizona, the desert rosy boa occupies the western areas of the Sonoran Desert.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 SourceAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Crotalus cerastesAnimal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyHosts: Sidewinder, Geographic RangeQuote, Hosts: Sidewinder, Geographic RangeSidewinder rattlesnakes ( Crotalus cerastes ) inhabit the southwest corner of the United States of America, extending as far west as the Mojave Desert in southern California and as far east as the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.View the SourcePlants For A Future: Echinocereus engelmanniiPlants For A FutureHosts: Echinocereus engelmannii, HabitatsQuote, Hosts: Echinocereus engelmannii, HabitatsIt occurs in Sonoran and Mojavean Desert, montane forest, chaparral, great plain grassland and juniper-pinyon woodlandView the SourceOpen Questions (1 open question)Open Question: Sonoran DesertThe Sonoran Desert's own Wikipedia entry asserts, with an acknowledged caveat, that it may be the joint hottest desert on Earth, while noting possible contrary evidence exists.What would resolve this A standardized comparative temperature survey across the world's hot deserts using one consistent measurement method and time period.ClimatologySonoran Desert (Wikipedia)Take a Related QuizWetlands, Reefs and Deltas: New EcosystemsCovers this kind of entry.Comments (0)No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.Sign in to join the discussion.Reader Challenges (0)No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.