Regions
The presence of large river valleys and small mountain ranges within the borders of the Chihuahuan Desert creates many habitats that are not actually desert at all. Animals and plants that could not survive desert heat and arid conditions thrive in these mountain forests and open woodlands, riparian areas, croplands, and aquatic environments.
There are other habitats, such as chaparral, between these larger regions which contain small ecosystems of their own.
Some animals, like the coyote, cross over easily from one habitat to another; while others, such as the sand-hill crane or the scorpion, are only found under more specific conditions. To truly understand the Chihuahuan Desert and the plants and animals within it, you must consider the many ecosystems which it contains.