Arizona Uplands

The Arizona Uplands are located in South and Central Arizona and Northern Sonora. The area includes many mountain ranges and valleys with different elevations. The region is highly diverse for a desert because it experiences two equal rainy seasons and the mountainous terrain creates a number of microhabitats. The Arizona Uplands are part of the Sonoran Desert but the area is often classified as belonging to the thorn scrub biome.

 

Key plants in the region include many types of legume trees and shrubs, succulents, and cacti. Some primary plants include the palo verde, ironwood, mesquite, acacia, saguaro, barrel cactus, and cholla. The saguaro is one of the most distinctive plants of this region. Many different animals can be found in the Arizona uplands including the pygmy owl, burrowing owl, javelina, jackrabbit, coyote, and many types of lizards and snakes. Conservation issues in the area include habitat loss due to urbanization.