New Mexico : Flora Fauna

New Mexico is divided into the six life zones: Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition, Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic-alpine.

Characteristic vegetation in Lower Sonoran includes, desert shrubs and grasses;in Upper Sonoran it includes piñon/juniper woodland, sagebrush, and chaparral. In Transition zone characteristic vegetation includes ponderosa pine and oak woodlands. Mixed conifer and aspen forests are characteristic of Canadian life zone while spruce/fir forests and meadows are available in Hudsonian region.Tundra wild flowers and riparian shrubs are characteristic of Arctic-alpine. The yucca which is the state flower has three varieties in New Mexico. Thirteen plant species which were listed as threatened or endangered in 2003, includes Sacramento prickly poppy, Moncos milk-vetch, and two species of cacti.
Native animals include pronghorn antelope, javelina, and black-throated sparrow in the lower Sonoran zone; mule and white-tailed deer, ringtail, and brown towhee in the upper Sonoran zone; elk and wild turkey in the transition zone; black bear and hairy woodpecker in the Canadian zone; pine marten and blue grouse in the Hudsonian zone; and bighorn sheep, pika, ermine, and white-tailed ptarmigan in the arctic-alpine zone. Among notable desert insects are the tarantula, centipede, and vinegarroon. Twenty-nine New Mexican animal species were classified as threatened or endangered in 2003, including two species of bat, whooping crane, bald eagle, southwestern willow flycatcher, Mexican spotted owl, three species of shiner, and razorback sucker.