Sonoran Desert Animals

The hottest desert in Mexico, as well as the United States, the Sonoran Desert, is also home to hundreds of unique animals and plants. The desert spans multiple states in two countries, from Sonora and Baja California in Mexico, to Arizona and California in the US.

With an area of 86,100 square miles, there are animals that are only found in the Sonoran Desert, like the Arizona blond tarantula, lesser long-nosed bat, and Mexican long-tongued bat. They have all adapted to these deserts’ hot and harsh conditions to call it their home.

List of Different Types of Animals Found in the Sonoran Desert

Mammals

Bobcat
Coyote
Gray Fox
Kit Fox
Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
Jackrabbit
Javelina
Kangaroo Rat
Mule Deer
Ringtail
White-throated Woodrat
Coati
Collared Peccary
Big Brown Bat
California Leaf-nosed Bat
Allen’s Big-eared Bat
Greater Mastiff Bat
Lesser Long-nosed Bat
Mexican Long-tongued Bat
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Spotted Bat
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
Pallid Bat

Birds

Anna’s Hummingbird
Cactus Wren
Elf Owl
Gambel’s Quail
Gila Woodpecker
Great Horned Owl
Harris Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
White-Winged Dove
Curve-billed Thrasher
Greater Roadrunner
Verdin
Black-throated Sparrow
Phainopepla

Reptiles

Collared Lizard
Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Desert Box Turtle
Diamondback Rattlesnake
Gila Monster
Desert Iguana
Sidewinder
Chuckwalla
Sonoran Coral Snake
Sonoran Whipsnake
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Desert Banded Gecko
Mexican Black Kingsnake
Tiger Rattlesnake
Trans-pecos Striped Whiptail
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard
Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard

Amphibians

Colorado River Toad
Common Mexican Tree Frog

Insects

Arizona Bark Scorpion
Desert Centipede
Pepsis Wasp
Palo Verde Grub
Arizona Blond Tarantula
Convergent Ladybird
Iron-cross Blister Beetle
Flame Skimmer

Multiple wildlife reserves and national parks protect all flora and fauna of these deserts. The Saguaro National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum are a few of the places ideal to see these animals in their natural habitat.