Animals in Arizona

Arizona boasts of one of the most diverse wildlife as the state has almost all types of habitats – be it the hot and dry plains of the Sonoran Desert or the mountainous terrains of its alpine peaks. It occupies 3rd place for being the most biodiverse state in the US, after California and Texas.

Numerous state parks allow humankind to get closer to its rich flora and fauna, with the Lost Dutchman, Catalina, and Kartchner Caverns being only a few.

It is impossible to list all the animals in this state in one place – so here is a list of most animals found in Arizona. Several rodents, snakes, frogs, and toads are actually invasive species.

Animals in Arizona (AZ)

List of Different Types of Animals That Live in Arizona

Mammals

Birds

Reptiles

  • Gila Monster
  • Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
  • Arizona Black Rattlesnake
  • Arizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
  • Sidewinder 
  • Desert Kingsnake
  • Sonoran Whipsnake
  • Desert Glossy Snake
  • Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
  • Threadsnake
  • Long-nosed Snake
  • Western Hognose Snake
  • Regal Ringneck Snake
  • Sonoran Gopher Snake
  • Desert Iguana
  • Sonoran Collared Lizard
  • Chuckwalla
  • Desert Spiny Lizard
  • Eastern Collared Lizard
  • Greater Earless Lizard
  • Regal Horned Lizard
  • Lesser Earless Lizard
  • Desert Night Lizard
  • Ornate Tree Lizard
  • Desert Horned Lizard
  • Western Fence Lizard
  • Western Banded Gecko
  • Sonoran Desert Tortoise
  • Desert Box Turtle
  • Sonoran Mud Turtle
  • Common Snapping Turtle 
  • Painted Turtle
  • Red-eared Slider
  • Western Skink
  • Leaf-toed Gecko
  • Sonoran Long-nosed Snake

Amphibians

  • Arizona Toad
  • Red-spotted Toad
  • Couch’s Spadefoot Toad
  • Great Plains Toad
  • Sonoran Desert Toad
  • Woodhouse’s Toad
  • Green Toad
  • Western Narrow-mouthed Toad
  • Mexican Burrowing Toad
  • Plains Spadefoot Toad
  • Mexican Spadefoot Toad
  • Canyon Tree Frog
  • Lowland Leopard Frog
  • Arizona Tree Frog
  • Northern Leopard Frog
  • Chiricahua Leopard Frog
  • Northern Green Frog
  • Bullfrog
  • American Bullfrog
  • Western Chorus Frog
  • Crawfish Frog
  • Southwestern Leopard Frog
  • Great Basin Spadefoot
  • Northern Cricket Frog
  • Blanchard’s Cricket Frog
  • Canyon Treefrog
  • Western Barking Frog
  • Mexican Treefrog
  • Tarahumara Frog

Fishes

  • Apache Trout
  • Mexican Stoneroller
  • Desert Sucker
  • Bluehead Sucker
  • Bluegill
  • Little Colorado River Sucker
  • Zuni Bluehead Sucker
  • Yaqui Sucker
  • Flannelmouth Sucker
  • Sonora Sucker
  • Desert Pupfish
  • Beautiful Shiner
  • Santa Cruz Pupfish
  • Rio Sonoyta Pupfish
  • Pacific Tenpounder or Machete
  • Yaqui Longfin Dace
  • Speckled Dace
  • Spikedace
  • Virgin Spinedace
  • Little Colorado River Spinedace
  • Sonora Chub
  • Roundtail Chub
  • Humpback Chub
  • Headwater Chub
  • Yaqui Chub
  • Bonytail Chub
  • Gila Chub
  • Virgin Chub
  • Yaqui Catfish
  • Chanel Catfish
  • Gila Trout
  • Yaqui Topminnow
  • Gila Topminnow
  • Colorado Pikeminnow
  • Loach Minnow
  • Razorback Sucker
  • Striped Mullet
  • Woundfin

Insects and Invertebrates

  • Southern Black Widow
  • Western Desert Tarantula
  • Desert Hairy Scorpion
  • Sonoran Desert Centipede
  • Giant Desert Millipede
  • Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
  • Vinegaroon (Whip Scorpion)
  • Desert Millipede
  • Arizona Bark Scorpion
  • Harvester Ant
  • Carpenter Ant
  • Velvet Ant (Cow Killer)
  • Arizona Desert Beetle
  • Giant Saguaro Cactus Beetle
  • Palo Verde Beetle
  • Praying Mantis
  • Western Honey Bee
  • Jerusalem Cricket
  • Sonoran Desert Cicada
  • Velvet Mesquite Bug
  • White-lined Sphinx Moth
  • Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
  • Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly
  • Painted Lady Butterfly
  • Monarch Butterfly

State Animals of Alabama

Arizona State Animals
State MammalRingtail
State BirdCactus Wren
State ReptileArizona Ridge-nosed Rattlesnake
State DinosaurSonorasaurus
State AmphibianArizona Tree Frog
State FishApache Trout
State ButterflyTwo-tailed Swallowtail

FAQ

1. What are the most dangerous animals in Arizona?

When it comes to Arizona, the smaller animals are the ones to look out for. It is home to the most venous insects and snakes, deadly enough to kill a human, like the Southern black widow, Western desert tarantula, Arizona bark scorpion, and several rattlesnakes. The Gila monster is another animal that can pose a considerable threat to humans.

2. What are some of the rarest animals in arizona?

In today’s world, an animal becomes rare when its population becomes threatened due to habitat loss or other human activity like excessive hunting. Arizona also has several species already listed and Threatened or Endangered by the IUCN. These include the Mexican gray wolf, black-footed ferret, Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake, and all the chub fish species.

3. What animals in Arizona burrow in the ground?

Arizona is home to many burrowing animals, including multiple species of pocket gophers, squirrels, rats, mice, and ferrets.

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