Sonoran Desert Facts for Kids

The Sonoran Desert is located in two countries: North America and Mexico. It is the wettest, most bio diverse and hottest desert in North America where it occurs naturally across the two states of California and Arizona. Its total area across both countries is approximately 260,000 square kilometers with the biome's largest presence been located in Mexico.

Factsmania provide free printable facts about the Sonoran Desert which are interesting and informative, and useful to schools, kids and teachers. Our fact sheets cover the most important information and key facts about the Sonoran Desert for kids about its animal species, birds, plants, weather conditions, average daytime and nighttime temperature, precipitation levels, type of climate, vegetation growth, formation and age, size and location of the Mexico and North America's wettest desert.

Interesting Sonoran Desert Facts for Kids:- Our printable Sonoran Desert facts sheet offers an informative guide for school teachers and children about North America's wettest and hottest desert. Did you know that the Sonoran desert has more than 2000 native plants species, about 100 reptiles, 20 amphibians, over 350 bird kinds and 60 mammals species? Did you know that the climate of the Sonoran Desert can be described as hot and wet? Did you know that the term 'desertification' can be defined as the process by which fertile land becomes desert? Did you know that the animals and plants of the Sonoran desert have created special survival techniques?

Interesting Sonoran Desert Facts for Kids:- Our free list of Interesting Sonoran Desert Biome Facts for Kids is easy to print and includes a summary and description of the Sonoran Desert as well as important facts about the formation, age, climate, animals, plants and temperature of the Sonoran Desert as well as why it is important, how it is classed as a biome, how its ecosystem and food web is structured, how big it is, and where it is located.

Interesting Sonoran Desert Facts for Kids

Sonoran Desert Fact File for Kids:- Official Name Facts: The Sonoran Desert got its name from Sonora State in Mexico which houses part of the Sonora Desert *** Location Facts: The Sonoran Desert is located occurs in Mexico and two states of North America: California and Arizona *** Size: The Sonoran Desert is approximately 260,000 square kilometers *** Annual Rainfall Facts: 3 to 20 inches (76mm to 500mm) average rainfall per year in the Sonoran Desert ***  Climate Description: Hot and Dry ***

Interesting Facts for Kids 1:- Where is the Sonoran Desert located?
The Sonoran Desert is located in the countries of North America and Mexico. In North America, the desert spans across the states of California and Arizona, and occur in Baja California, Sinaloa and Sonora. The Sonoran Desert is bordered on the west by the Peninsular Ranges, on the east and on the north by the Colorado Plateau. The Mojave Desert is also situated north of the Sonoran Desert.

Interesting Facts for Kids 2:- How big is the Sonoran Desert?
The Sonoran is fairly big but nowhere the near the size of the largest deserts on Earth. Its landscape covers an area of approximately 260,000 square kilometers (100,000 square miles) and occurs throughout 2 countries including Mexico and North America. The Sonoran is present throughout 2 North American States including California and Arizona, and occurs in areas such as Baja California, Sinaloa, Sonora.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3:- What is the temperature in the Sonoran Desert?
The temperature of the Sonoran Desert varies during the seasons. The maximum temperatures can be very hot, particularly in July when they can reach around 102 degrees Fahrenheit, whilst in cooler months, the temperatures can feel much colder. In January, the temperature in the Sonoran can reach as low as 38.9 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The average night time temperature of the Sonoran Desert can vary throughout the year from approximately 38.9 to 74.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The average daytime temperature can vary between 67.3 to 102.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4:- What is the climate of the Sonoran Desert?
The climate of the Sonoran Desert is generally hot and this particular desert biome is reputed to be North America’s hottest desert with temperatures reaching in excess of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). The climate in the Sonoran can be extreme and temperatures have in fact been known to reach 118 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius). Compared to the daytime, the climate of the Sonoran Desert is much colder during the night. The Sonoran Desert doesn't experience an extremely hot climate all year round, some months of the year the weather conditions are far cooler.

Interesting Facts for Kids 5:- Sonoran Desert Rainfall
The Sonoran Desert receives a mean yearly precipitation of approximately 3 to 20 inches (76mm to 500mm). The amount of precipitation is dependent on the location of the Sonoran desert. The higher, more elevated parts of the desert receive higher precipitation. In actual fact, the Sonoran Desert is amongst the wettest deserts in North America with rainfall ranging from around 3 inches to 16 inches annually.

Interesting Facts for Kids 6:- What animals live in the Sonoran Desert?
The Sonoran Desert is home to many species of animals including mammals, birds, arachnids and insects as well as amphibians and reptiles. The names of some of the animals found in the Sonoran Desert include White-Winged Dove, White-Throated Woodrat, Vultures, Tarantula, Ringtail, Pepsis Wasp, Palo Verde Grub, Mule Deer, Kangaroo Rat, Javelina, Jackrabbit, Harris Hawk, Harris Antelope Ground Squirrel, Great Horned Owl, Gray Fox, Gila Woodpecker, Gila monster, Gambel's Quail, Elf Owl, Diamondback Rattlesnake, Desert Tortoise, Desert Centipede, Coyote, Collared Lizard, Cactus Wren, Bobcat, Bark Scorpion and Anna's Hummingbird.

Interesting Facts for Kids 7:-  Sonoran Desert Toad Facts
The Sonoran Desert Toad is also known as the Colorado River Toad and it is one of the animals found living in the Sonoran desert. As an adult, this amphibian can grow to 190mm (7.5 inches) in length. In fact, the Sonoran Desert Toad is the second biggest toad in America. It survives the hot desert by absorbing water into its body through osmosis. The area which absorbs the water is known as the seat patch which extends from the back legs to the middle of the abdomen. It rehydrates itself by absorbing water from wet objects or small pools. This helps it to survive desert life.

Interesting Facts for Kids 8:-  Sonoran Desert Toad adaptations
Another survival technique of the toad is its poison. The toad is very poisonous and therefore, very dangerous. Its poison has been known to result in the death and paralysis of other animals, even dogs. The poison is produced by the white glands on the leg and a white wart by the corner of the Sonoran Desert Toad's mouth. The toad reproduces between May and August when the rain starts to fall. It lays eggs between one to three days after rainfall in anything that holds water including structures made by man, pools, slow moving streams and ponds.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9:-  Sonoran Desert animal adaptations
Animals living in the Sonoran Desert have to make many adaptations in order to survive its extreme temperatures and hot climate. Most of the wildlife is more active at night when the weather is cooler. During the day, most species will seek shade under trees, vegetation and other structures. The Sonoran Desert is one of the wettest deserts in North America and Mexico and typically experiences higher amounts of rainfall than many other hot deserts. This is important for the survival or animals and plants. The animals thus have access to water, especially during periods of rainfall. Most of the animals are able to utilize and store water efficiently.

Interesting Facts for Kids 10:- Sonoran Desert Kangaroo Rat
Another example of an animal that adapts well to the Sonoran Desert is the Kangaroo Rat as this rodent can survive without even a drop of water for its entire life. They can obtain enough water for survival from insects, leaves and even dry seeds. The Kangaroo Rat also has the ability to recycle and conserve any water it takes.

Interesting Facts for Kids 11:- Sonoran Desert Roadrunner
Roadrunners are amongst the types of birds found living in the Sonoran Desert. Despite being able to fly, this particular bird prefers to stay on the ground because it saves energy and it is less stressful. Roadrunners, however, can run very fast and reach speeds as high as 40 kilometers per hour. This helps them to survive life in the Sonoran Desert as they retain energy and water.

Interesting Facts for Kids 15:- Sonoran Desert food chain facts
The Sonoran Desert food web is made up of 4 major food chains. The mammals such as the fox and Kangaroo rat feed on other animals and plants in the desert while the birds feed on the insects, arachnids, amphibians and reptiles. The birds such as the Gila Woodpecker, Elf Owl and White-Winged Dove feed on insects and arachnids. Some of them also feed on reptiles and amphibians. The reptiles such as the lizard feed mainly on insects and arachnids. Some of the herbivorous animals feed on plants. The insects and arachnids are at the bottom of the food chain and they too feed on plants and vegetation. Some of the animals are also poisonous which makes them a danger to potential predators and of course, to their prey. It is difficult for other animals higher up the food chain to prey on them.

Interesting Facts for Kids 16:- What plants grow in the Sonoran Desert?
Many species of plant life can be found growing in the Sonoran Desert including trees, shrubs, cacti, herbs and grasses. Some of the most popular Sonoran Desert plant names include Summer Poppy, Saguaro Cactus, Prickly Pear, Ocotillo, Globe Mallow, Foothills Palo Verde, Flowers and Fruit, Fishook Barrel Cactus, Desert Marigold, Buckhorn Cholla, and Brittlebush.

Interesting Facts for Kids 17:- Sonoran Desert Mesquite tree
The Mesquite tree is found growing in the Sonoran Desert. It is particularly suited to this biome as its roots can grow deep into the soil as long as 30 meters, it does so in search of water. Several other plant species found in the Sonoran Desert have very thick nodules, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs and roots that can survive under the ground even when they look dead above the ground. Most trees, such as ocotillo and ironwood, shed their leaves during the dry season.

Interesting Facts for Kids 18:- Sonoran Desert plant adaptations and facts
The plants of the Sonoran Desert have to adapt to its hot climate and sometimes nutritionally poor soil. The Sonoran Desert is the one of North America's and Mexico's wettest deserts as it receives a fair amount of rainfall which is important for the growth of vegetation. The growth of desert plants are more abundant during the rainfall period. In actual fact, during months of high rainfall, the Sonoran Desert biome normally has more plant species than any other desert in the world. The growth of vegetation, and plant life such as cactus, is very important to the survival of of birds and mammals that feed on them.

Interesting Sonoran Desert Facts for Kids