Still considered relatively untamed land, Arizona’s predominantly harsh desert terrain is host to a myriad of beautiful and interesting animals. Wildlife in Arizona is as diverse as its landscape.
All through Arizona, there are differing habitats that are home to unique Arizona animals, reptiles and critters that have different traits, characteristics, and behavior personalities. Here are a few:
COYOTES. With a wide range that extends from Canada to Panama, coyotes are a successful species that figure into the history, folklore, and present-day culture of the American West. Most of Arizona’s coyotes sport the telltale yellow desert coats. They are known for their considerable agility and speed – which may reach up to 40 miles per hour.
THE GILA MONSTER. The Gila Monster (pronounced “hee-la”) is the largest native lizard found in the United States, and one of only two poisonous lizards in the world. The other is the Mexican Beaded Lizard which exists primarily in the northern areas of Mexico. Both the Gila and the Beaded Lizard are related and both have a beaded body appearance. The Gila Monster is brilliantly colored with a black body marked with bright vivid colors of pink, orange and yellow. They were first discovered in the Gila River Basin and were hence named, “Gila.”
ARIZONA JAVELINA. Though some people may call them “cute,” Javelinas are ugly animals with a rather unpleasant (to say the least) odor which is why they’re often referred to as “musk hogs.” They are not wild pigs but are actually members of the “peccary” family that originated in South America. They have become accustomed to being in close proximity to humans and will generally ignore people. If you approach them, they will simply leave the area. But if provoked, they have been known to defend themselves with their long, sharp tusks.
ARIZONA CORALSNAKE. Also known as the “Western Coral,” there are some paradoxical twists surrounding the Arizona Coral Snake. Yes, it is a poisonous snake, but in spite of some scary facts, there has never been a known recorded human death resulting from the bite of an Arizona Coral Snake. Few people know that the Arizona species of Coral is actually related to the Cobra, and that “ouncefor-ounce” the venom of the Arizona Coral is more than twice as potent as the venom of the Mohave Rattlesnake which is considered the most dangerous of rattlesnake species. The Arizona Coral Snake is a non-aggressive snake that will avoid human contact.
ARIZONA MOUNTAIN LIONS. The Mountain Lion is also known as a “cougar,” “puma,” and “panther.” The grace and power of the cougar continues to be a standard symbol of strength and stealth. Although it is considered part of the small cat family, the mountain lion is the fourth largest wild cat in the world after the tiger, lion and jaguar. It cannot roar, but similar to domestic cats they do hiss, growl and even purr.
Arizona’s animal kingdom includes other spectacular creatures such as White Tail Deer; Ringtail Cat; Mule Deer; Desert Bighorn Sheep; Bob Cats; Black Bear; and the famed Horned Toad.
