Do you see the young horned lizard (Phyrnosoma spp.) in this photo? He blends in perfectly with the surrounding rocks, dirt, and foliage thanks to crypsis. Crypsis is an overarching term that refers to the biological goal of remaining hidden. This adaptation encompasses morphological traits and behaviors that are used to avoid predation, or to increase a predator’s chances of stalking prey undetected. Crypsis can be broken down into specific types of concealment - the most common example for...

White-nosed coati peeking out of a den Coatis are adorable, clever, creatures that look like an amalgamation of a few species - lemurs, raccoons, greyhounds, anything that’s cute and furry. Sometimes they’re referred to as monkey puppies around the Watershed Restoration Program office.  They are actually closely related to raccoons, as well as the Ringtail, Arizona's state mammal. These three species belong to the taxonomic family Procyonidae, within the order Carnivora. Other family members...

A beautiful coyote at sunset in the BWP Ecosystems are full of symbiotic relationships, which are long term interactions between different organisms. Some of these interactions are one-sided, some are parasitic, and occasionally some benefit both organisms, which is called a mutualistic relationship. Mutualistic relationships are not common in the wild because competition for resources heavily influences wildlife behavior. Especially when two predators have a similar prey base, they are...