Among the animals of the Sonoran desert are the tarantula, the red lynx, the cacomixtle and the monster of Gila. Most of the animals found in the Sonora desert originate from this locality.
This happens because the species that inhabited this desert have evolved and have particular characteristics that increase their chances of surviving in these conditions.
So, the climatic conditions of the Sonoran desert are the reason why you can get there a great variety of unique animals in their species and in the world.
The most relevant Sonoran desert animals
1- Dipodomys ordii
Also recognized as a kangaroo rat, it is a rodent native to North America. Their long legs and the fact that they walk like bipeds are the reasons why they are known by that name.
However, there is a very distant relationship between the kangaroo and the Dipodomys ordii.
2- Northern Cacomixtle
This is a nocturnal mammal belonging to the family of raccoons and coatis.
It is also called a ring-tailed cat because of its long tail with circular black spots. Other names for this animal are miner’s cat and rintel.
3- Tarantula
The tarantula is a spider with dark fur that belongs to the genus Theraphosidae . This spider has a very painful bite.
However, this bite is not usually fatal, unlike the bite of a black widow spider, for example.
4- red lynx
This lynx is a carnivore belonging to the felidae family. It is not as large as the Canada lynx, with which it shares habitat.
The red lynx is twice as large as a regular cat.
5- Little owl of the saguaros
It is also known as the dwarf owl. It is a very small owl, the size of a human hand; that is, between 12 and 15 centimeters.
The owl of the saguaros is from North America, so it is regularly found in the Sonora desert.
6- Gila monster
This reptile is a poisonous lizard that has a black coloration with yellow spots, allowing it to easily camouflage itself in the desert landscape. It can measure around 60 centimeters.
7- Mixed buzzard
This is a bird also called hawk, Harris’s buzzard, peuco and mixed sparrowhawk, among other names.
It is medium in size compared to other birds. The mixed busards, usually plan a lot, since the shape of their wings favors this movement.
8- Tarantula hunting wasp
As the name implies, this is a spider wasp that hunts tarantulas for food. These wasps have a black body and yellowish-reddish wings. They generally measure around 5 centimeters.
9- Bark scorpion
This scorpion is recognized for its deadly sting. It has a brown brown color and has long thin clamps.
It can be found in the Sonora desert and in the desert habitats that are close to it, such as the state of Arizona.
10- Collared lizard
This reptile receives that name for the black spot in the shape of a necklace that is right on its neck.
This animal belongs to the Iguania suborder and has a very striking coloration: an intense turquoise body and a yellow head.
11-Gambel’s Quail
This bird is distributed throughout the deserts of northwestern Mexico, including Sonora. It measures approximately 25 cm and is distinguished from the other quail by its relatively short, rounded wings and long legs. The plumage has blue and gray tones and the head is copper colored.
He spends most of his time walking through brush and thickets, where he looks for small prey (usually insects) to feed on.
