The Subtropical Sky Islands of Southern Arizona - Madrean Evergreen Oak Woodland

• The Madrean evergreen oak habitat type comprises the majority of the sky islands of southeastern Arizona, and is found in elevations ranging between 5,000 and 7,600 feet. The term “sky island” refers to a mountain or mountain range surrounded by hot lowland desert, resulting in a habitat “island”. These islands create unique subtropical habitats found nowhere else in the U.S. They in turn support rare animals usually associated with Central / South America such as the jaguar, jaguarundi, ocelot, coati, elegant trogon, crested caracara, and 18 different hummingbird species.

• Common broad leaf evergreen tree species you will come across include : (Quercus hypoleucoides) the silverleaf oak - my personal favorite, (Quercus rugosa) the Mexican netleaf oak, (Quercus arizonica) the Arizona white oak, (Quercus oblongifolia) the Mexican blue oak, (Quercus emoryi) the Emory oak, and my second favorite (Arbutus arizonica) the Arizona madrone.

•Common understory shrubs and succulents include : (Arctostaphylos pungens) pointleaf manzanita, (Garrya wrightii) Wrights silktassel bush, (Mimosa aculeaticarpa) catclaw mimosa, (Erythrina flabelliformis) Southwestern coral bean, (Dodonea viscosa) Mexican hopbush, (Yucca madrensis) Madrean yucca, a plethora of species of (Agave) century plants, (Echinocereus) hedgehog cactus, (Cylindropuntia) cholla cactus, and (Ferocactus) barrel cactus. As well as fields of (Dasylirion wheeleri) sotol, and (Nolina microcarpa) sacahuista.

The Sierra Madre Orientál is one of the last places in the U.S. where jaguars, ocelots, jaguarundis, and coatimundis exist in the wild. They have been hunted to extinction throughout the rest of the Southwest. Let’s keep these amazing iconic animals healthy and where they belong. Always respect the environment and pick up your trash if you’re traveling through the Sky Islands.

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