| Animals |
Plants |
Desert tortoise (Gopherus marafkai)
These animals are common, yet often unseen at Saguaro National Park. Most of their long lives are spent in burrows where they escape the cold winter temperatures and extreme summer heat. |
Parry's penstemon (Penstemon parryi)
A tall growing perennial with hot pink tubular flowers and pairs of blue-green leaves widely spaced along the stem. |
Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister)
Common in the desert, especially sunbathing on rocks. One of the largest lizards in the park, with very prominent scales. Often dark-colored, but can take on bright blue and yellow colors during mating season. |
Ratany (Krameria sp.)
Low-growing bluish grayish shrubs with uniquely shaped bright pink flowers and spiky ball fruits. These plants are partial parasites, taking nutrients and water from the roots of nearby plants. |
Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)
A long, slender, fast-moving snake that gets its name from its resemblance to stagecoach drivers, it is variable in color throughout its range, but individuals of Saguaro National Park are usually almost completely black. If caught, a coachwhip may become aggressive. |
Fairy duster (Calliandra eriophylla)
A low growing shrub with dark green divided leaves and spherical clusters of reddish pinkish flowers that resemble pom-poms. |
Desert iguana (Dipsosaurus drosalis)
This is a large, light-colored, fast-moving lizard found in sandy areas. Has a row of larger dorsal scales down the center of its back, as well as a long striped tail. |
Desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana)
Tall-growing plant with few leaves, mostly around base of plant, and large white flowers. |
Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)
Most active during daylight from spring through fall, but they spend up to 98% of their time in their burrows. |
Bare-stem larkspur (Delphinium scaposum)
Striking electric blue flowers with long spurs, spaced at the ends of long stems. Most leaves are bunched around the base. |
Lesser earless lizard (Holbrookia maculata)
This small lizard is like the zebra-tailed and greater earless lizards. However, it is smaller and drabber in coloration, lacking black bands on the underside of its tail, and is more often found in rocky areas. |
Rosary babybonnets (Coursetia glandulosa)
A large shrub in the pea family, often lining desert washes, with multicolor cream/yellow/pink flowers and leaves divided into small leaflets. |
Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
This small lizard is found on rocks or trees and is typically brown or gray in color. Its markings blend well with tree bark to help it avoid predators. |
Desert rosemallow (Hibiscus coulteri)
A slender perennial with thin woody stems and large striking flowers, mostly cream colored but with purplish spots in the middle. |
Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)
The sidewinder, a native venomous snake, is usually found in sandy areas of the Sonoran Desert, where their unique form of locomotion comes in handy. Sidewinders can be easily distinguished from other rattlesnakes by the hornlike scales on top of their heads. |
Desert tobacco (Nicotiana obtusifolia)
A robust herbaceous perennial with white tubular flowers and broad leaves. The entire plant is sticky with a musky aroma. |
Zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Look for the zebra-like stripes on its tail! Often spotted running or wagging its tail side to side on sandy surfaces. |
Engelmann's hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus engelmanii)
A low-growing cactus with cylindrical stems, straight spines, and large bright pink flowers. |
Western ground snake (Sonora semiannulata)
This snake is usually a reddish-brown color, and some are crossbanded with black. A secretive, nocturnal snake, they prefer the loose soils of dry riverbeds. |
Desert mariposa lily (Calochortus kennedyi var. kennedyi)
Low-growing with narrow leaves and a spectacular three-petaled orange flower. |
Spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura sp.)
Not native to the area but found nearby. Large brown-gray lizard with a row of larger dorsal scales down the center of its back. Juveniles are bright green. |
Bladdermallow (Herrisantia crispa)
A low-growing viney shrub with cream/yellow flowers and hanging fruits that look like inflated lanterns. |
Smith's black-headed snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi)
This snake has a black cap on top of its head with a cream-colored collar. It frequents brushy areas, especially near canyon bottoms and streams. |
Yellow tackstem (Calycoseris parryi)
Locally rare yellow chicory-type flower with tack-like stalked glands visible underneath the flower and along the stem. Found on the Hugh Norris Trail in the early 1990s, help us try and "rediscover" it! |
