- The Sonoran Desert encompasses about 55 million acres.cactus in the desert image by Robert Freese from Fotolia.com
The Sonoran Desert covers about 100,000 square miles, stretching across the United States and Mexico. It includes the Mexican state of Sonora and southern portions of Arizona, California and New Mexico. In contrast to other North American deserts, the Sonoran is tropical in origin and most of its area is frost-free. Its wide variety of habitats and bi-seasonal rainfall support great biological diversity. - The northern jaguar is a strong climber and excellent swimmer.jaguar american leopard predator animal image by Pali A from Fotolia.com
Between 80 and 120 northern jaguars live in the Sonoran Desert, according to the Northern Jaguar Project. A "roaring" cat, the northern jaguar is the largest cat native to North America and the third largest cat in the world. It measures 5 to 8 feet from nose to tail and weighs between 80 and 120 pounds. Jaguars living in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands are smaller than their South American relatives. Habitat fragmentation and poaching have nearly eliminated them from their northern range. As of 2008, according to the Northern Jaguar Project, at least 24 jaguars--as much as 1/4 of their fragile northern population--have been killed by cattle ranchers because of livestock predation. - The ocelot's spotted coat offers excellent camouflage.ocelot-rb image by Tijara Images from Fotolia.com
Ocelots are extremely shy and nocturnal. In the Sonoran Desert, they favor areas of dense desert scrub, where their spotted coats make them difficult to see. They're solitary cats, generally occupying territories between four and seven square miles. Ocelots are small but adept predators. They usually weigh between 18 and 26 pounds and hunt mainly rats, mice, rabbits and birds in the Sonoran Desert. So rare that their exact numbers are not known, ocelots are mainly threatened by loss of habitat. - The jaguarundi, also known as "otter cat," looks somewhat like an otter or weasel. It has a small head, long body and short legs, and is uniformly dark brownish-gray. It measures up to about 30 inches in length with an additional 20-inch or so tail. The jaguarundi is a diurnal (daytime) hunter and an expert fish-catcher. It also preys on birds, small mammals, rodents and reptiles. Although its fur isn't highly sought after, the jaguarundi is at risk through general deforestation and loss of natural habitat.
- This bat lives in colonies of thousands. It roosts in hot, humid caves and visits flowers to feed on nectar and pollen. It also consumes columnar cacti fruit. Lesser long-nosed bat migrations from south-central Mexico to the Sonoran Desert and other parts of southern Arizona are considered "endangered phenomena," according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Females give birth to a single pup after a six-month gestation period. These bats are highly endangered because the floral resources they depend on during migration are dwindling, being eliminated by wildland habitat conversion and fragmentation. Rural residents, mistaking these bats for vampire bats, have targeted their caves for destruction.
- The chiricahua leopard frog is a medium-sized, stout-bodied frog with green-brown skin and lots of spots on its back. It has pale yellow to white skin on its underside. Adults are distinguished from other leopard frogs by their unique salt-and-pepper thigh pattern. These frogs are highly aquatic and are found in rocky streams, ponds and permanent springs. They feed on insects and freshwater shrimp. The main reason for this frog's decline is destruction of habitat and the introduction of competing species, such as the bullfrog.
- The female Southwestern willow flycatcher typically lays three eggs.tropical pewee flycatcher image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com
The Southwestern willow flycatcher stands about 6 inches high and weighs approximately 1/2 an ounce. Its back and wings are green-gray and it has a white throat, light olive breast and a pale yellow belly. It's most recognized by its calls, either a sharp "whit" or a sneezy-sounding "fitz-bew." An insectivore, the southwestern willow flycatcher takes insects from the air or pecks them from the foliage. Habitat destruction is the main reason for this bird's decline and endangered status. - Thick-billed parrots are bright green with large black bills. Their crowns, shoulders and legs are red. The birds stand about 15 inches tall. They're highly social, living in flocks and roosting and feeding in groups. They eat pine seeds, acorns, juniper berries, conifer buds, agave nectar and insect larvae. Their loud calls sound like human laughter and can be heard a mile away. According to Defenders of Wildlife, these birds may have already been hunted to extinction in Arizona. In Mexico, they're threatened primarily by logging and, to a lesser extent, trapping for the pet trade.
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