THE SAGUARO (SA WAARO)CACTUS IS THE DOMINANT SPECIES IN THE AREA WHERE THE SONORAN AND CHIHUAHUA DESERTS MEET ACROSS ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO.SUCH A DIVERSE RANGE OF STRANGE ADAPTATIONS TO SURVIVE EXTREME HEAT AND BRIEF MONSOON RAINS IN JULY.
GERMINATION IS VERY POOR AND THE PLANTS ONLY GROW TO ABOUT 6INCHES AFTER 10 YEARS.FLOWERING STARTS AT 50 YEARS THESE SPECIMENS ARE 100'S YEARS OLD.
FLOWERS LAST A DAY AND ARE POLLINATED BY DOVES AND BATS.
FRUITS DEVELOP QUICKLY.
THE RIPE FRUIT GORGED ON BY BIRDS AND BATS AND HUMANS(MAKE A FINE JAM) AND ALL MANNER OF ANIMALS WHEN THEY FALL TO THE GROUND.
DOVES NEST ON TOP.
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS PREDOMINANTLY IN THE SOUTH OF THE RANGE ON MEXICAN BORDER THEY EXTEND WAY DOWN INTO CHIHUAHUA.
TURKEY VULTURES ROAM THE SKIES.
MEXICAN LONG NOSED BAT.
WOODPECKERS MAKE NESTS FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHER BIRDS AS WELL TAKE OVER THE OLD NESTS.
WESTERN DIAMONDBACKED RATTLE SNAKE.AT SONORAN DESERT MUSEUM.85% OF THE VICTIMS OF SNAKE BITES FIT A VERY NARROW STEREOTYPE.MALE,AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 35,INTOXICATED AND TATTOOED!!
AT LEAST 20 HUMMINGBIRD SPECIES.
GILOMONSTER (HEELO) A SLUGGISH LIZARD ABOUT 1 METRE LONG. THE ONLY LIZARD WITH A POISONOUS BITE . IT LATCHES ON TO PREY AND PUMPS THE POISON FROM ITS SALIVARY GLANDS.
OUR FAVOURITE.THE ROADRUNNER OFTEN SEEN WITH A LIZARD OR SNAKE FROM ITS MOUTH. IT IS A CUCKOO AND CAN REACH 40KM PER HR.FASTER THAN MOST OF MY RACEHORSES!!
AMAZING BLACKTAILED JACKRABBIT. HUGE EARS TO KEEP IT COOL.
THESE DESERT SQUIRRELS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRINK WATER 1.5 TIMES SALTIER THAN SEAWATER!!
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