| 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.The Tucson Mountain District contains two rhatany species, white rhatany (Krameria bicolor), which thrives in desert habitats, and littleleaf rhatany (Krameria erecta), which occurs in a variety of Southwestern habitats. Mapping more of both species will help the park better understand where each species predominates and where the two might overlap in the park! |
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 and may be red, black, or a mix of both colors. 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. |
Mexican sandmat (Euphorbia gracillima)
A rare and easy-to-miss species that seems to thrive in the Tucson Mountains. Look for a tiny low-growing hairless plant with many thin reddish stems that branch in a zigzag pattern. Leaves are linear in shape, short and thin. The tiny flower structures are whitish to pinkish, followed by a small greenish 3-sided fruit. Get your magnifying glass ready for this one! |
Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum)
Most active during daylight from spring through fall, but they spend up to 98% of their time in their burrows. |
Wolfberries (Lycium species)
Dense woody shrubs with small linear or spoon-shaped leaves. Flowers are tubular, followed by bright red berries which are often present in the fall. The park has multiple species, most commonly L. berlandieri and L. andersonii in the west district. More observations will help us better understand where the different species occur! |
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. It is uncommon in the park, and biologists hope to learn more about it. |
Oreganillo (Aloysia wrightii)
A sprawling woody shrub with thin branches. Look for mint-like leaves with prominent veins and a wonderful aroma! Flowers are small and white, arranged in a dense spike. |
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. |
Rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus)
A low-growing woody shrub with grayish green leaves and stems. Easiest to spot are the gorgeous large pink flowers with a dark red spot in the middle. |
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. This snake is very rare; it has been found nearby, but never recorded in the Tucson Mountain District, so we hope you're the first to find one! |
Christmas cholla (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)
A cactus with very thin stems and long spines, often hidden and sprawling in other vegetation. Most visible when covered in the bright red fruits that contrast sharply with its green stems. You might also catch its pale yellow flowers. |
Spiny-tailed iguana (Ctenosaura sp.)
Not native to the area but occurs on the grounds of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and rumored to be in the park. 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. |
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