Sonoran BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) includes all of the North American’s warm desert regions. It is has been sub-divided into five sub-bioprovinces - from west to east these include: Baja California, Mojave Desert (including Death Valley), Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert and the Tamaulipan Thorn-Scrub. They are all classed as warm deserts since all precipitation falls as rain, whereas the Great Basin Desert to the north is classed as a cool desert since some of its precipitation falls as snow. The total flora of this BioProvince is thought to range from 5000 and 6000 species with many common to two or more of the sub-bioprovinces. In the Mojave Desert about 80% of the plant species are endemic. The most widespread taxon in Tamaulipan is Prosopis but the other sub-bioprovinces are typified by Larrea tridentata (creosote bush).

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Vascular Plant Flora
Endemic Flora (Death Valley)
Endemic Flora (Gulf of California Islands)
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status