Plants and Animals of the Colorado Plateau: Arid Grasslands and Sagebrush-Steppe

Plains pricklypear cactus are common throughout the western U.S.; their blooms can vary from pink to yellow. The plant gets its name from the numerous sharp spines on its stems. The reddish-colored fruit it bears is known as a pear or tuna.

Indian paintbrush in the sagebrush-steppe; the orange, flower-like tops of the plant are actually leaves.

Native Americans ground the seeds of Indian ricegrass, a common bunchgrass in the sagebrush-steppe zone, to make bread and porridges.

The flowers of antelope bitterbrush (a common shrub in the sagebrush-steppe) have five petals, and the leaves have three lobes (compare to the leaves of big sagebrush!) (Hint: the leaves of antelope bitterbrush are wider and shorter than those of big sagebrush; they are also less “blue”; both are somewhat “furry.”)

Male tarantulas migrate across the Colorado Plateau in September and October. Why do they migrate? Like males of most species, they are looking for a mate!

Horny toads (or horned lizards) are common reptiles in desert areas on the Colorado Plateau. Their coloring and skin texture help camouflage them on the ground.

A bull snake at one of DOE’s Colorado Plateau sites; note that there’s no rattle on its tail.

A diamondback rattlesnake (note the rattle on the end of its tail).

Coyotes normally hunt alone or in pairs, and they eat almost anything!

A young pronghorn trots across a grassland. Pronghorns are the second fastest animal on the land (cheetah is the fastest); they can achieve speeds of 53 miles per hour and run a mile and a half without slowing down. Coyotes, bobcats, and wolves are their main predators.

Plains pricklypear cactus are common throughout the western U.S.; their blooms can vary from pink to yellow. The plant gets its name from the numerous sharp spines on its stems. The reddish-colored fruit it bears is known as a pear or tuna.

Plains pricklypear cactus are common throughout the western U.S.; their blooms can vary from pink to yellow. The plant gets its name from the numerous sharp spines on its stems. The reddish-colored fruit it bears is known as a pear or tuna.

Indian paintbrush in the sagebrush-steppe; the orange, flower-like tops of the plant are actually leaves.

Indian paintbrush in the sagebrush-steppe; the orange, flower-like tops of the plant are actually leaves.

Native Americans ground the seeds of Indian ricegrass, a common bunchgrass in the sagebrush-steppe zone, to make bread and porridges.

Native Americans ground the seeds of Indian ricegrass, a common bunchgrass in the sagebrush-steppe zone, to make bread and porridges.

The flowers of antelope bitterbrush (a common shrub in the sagebrush-steppe) have five petals, and the leaves have three lobes (compare to the leaves of big sagebrush!) (Hint: the leaves of antelope bitterbrush are wider and shorter than those of big sagebrush; they are also less “blue”; both are somewhat “furry.”)

The flowers of antelope bitterbrush (a common shrub in the sagebrush-steppe) have five petals, and the leaves have three lobes (compare to the leaves of big sagebrush!) (Hint: the leaves of antelope bitterbrush are wider and shorter than those of big sagebrush; they are also less “blue”; both are somewhat “furry.”)

Male tarantulas migrate across the Colorado Plateau in September and October. Why do they migrate? Like males of most species, they are looking for a mate!

Male tarantulas migrate across the Colorado Plateau in September and October. Why do they migrate? Like males of most species, they are looking for a mate!

Horny toads (or horned lizards) are common reptiles in desert areas on the Colorado Plateau. Their coloring and skin texture help camouflage them on the ground.

Horny toads (or horned lizards) are common reptiles in desert areas on the Colorado Plateau. Their coloring and skin texture help camouflage them on the ground.

A bull snake at one of DOE’s Colorado Plateau sites; note that there’s no rattle on its tail.

A bull snake at one of DOE’s Colorado Plateau sites; note that there’s no rattle on its tail.

A diamondback rattlesnake (note the rattle on the end of its tail).

A diamondback rattlesnake (note the rattle on the end of its tail).

Coyotes normally hunt alone or in pairs, and they eat almost anything!

Coyotes normally hunt alone or in pairs, and they eat almost anything!

A young pronghorn trots across a grassland. Pronghorns are the second fastest animal on the land (cheetah is the fastest); they can achieve speeds of 53 miles per hour and run a mile and a half without slowing down. Coyotes, bobcats, and wolves are their main predators.

A young pronghorn trots across a grassland. Pronghorns are the second fastest animal on the land (cheetah is the fastest); they can achieve speeds of 53 miles per hour and run a mile and a half without slowing down. Coyotes, bobcats, and wolves are their main predators.