Horned LizardWhen you think of an ecosystem, you might think of lush forests or vast oceans teeming with wildlife. However, the Saguaro Desert is unique in its own way. Hidden among the 91,446 million acres of this hot, harsh desert is a world of organisms that thrive to survive. Located in Arizona, the variety of plant and animal life in this park surpasses that of any other North American desert. It is divided into two districts, named after the mountain ranges that surround the park; named Tuscan and Rincon. Saguaro cacti are very important to this ecosystem. In fact, the ecosystem owes its name to this immense cactus that inhabits this place. A very important organism that lives in the Saguaro Desert is the horned lizard. Without the horned lizard, the Saguaro Desert would quickly collapse. If you've ever heard someone say, "Hey, look!" There is a horned toad! they really refer to a horned lizard. They have spines (spikes) to protect themselves from predators. These lizards move slowly and are patient for their food. They feed primarily on insects like ants, and in the Saguaro Desert they eat kangaroo rats. There are 14 different species of horned lizards. They are different in some ways, but all of their colors resemble their surroundings, which helps them stay safer. Horned lizards can survive in many climates and temperatures. If it's too hot, they bury themselves with their heads protruding above the surface of the soil. This way it cools them without having to go far. Ideally, they can stay at home during the winter. They survive by burrowing into the ground and hibernating. Horned lizards primarily lay eggs, but for some species, the young are born alive. After the eggs were laid, parents ...... middle of paper ...... in the Tuscan region used the Saguaro cactus as a frame in the walls of their homes. The ribs of the Saguaro were used to harvest the fruits that grew high on the plant. The Hohokam people used the sweet fruits of cacti for ceremonial wine, jellies, and candies. They used the leftover seeds to feed the chickens. Humans built homes in the Tuscan region, causing the Saguaro Desert to become much of its habitat. Now that we humans don't have as much land to destroy, this national park is getting safer every day. As you can see now, the Saguaro Desert has a lot of things we don't want to lose. It may look quite rugged and dilapidated, but you may not know that many amazing things can happen to it. It's much more than boring sand and cacti, and even a well-known park. It is home to an abundance of amazing organisms and hopefully more to come..