Fauna and flora
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Desert tortoises at a burrow
Around 2,145 combined plant, fungi and animal species have been documented within Joshua Tree National Park, according to the biodiversity database iNaturalist, with over 250 avian, 50 mammalian, 40 reptilian and amphibian, and nearly 1,000 invertebrate species known to inhabit the park boundaries and its immediate vicinities. In addition to the many birds, such as Gambel's quail and the greater roadrunner, numerous lizards, snakes, chipmunks, and California ground squirrels are the animals most likely to be seen by daytime visitors to the area. Golden eagles, ravens, red-tailed hawks, burrowing owls and turkey vultures are among the diurnal raptors and predatory birds that can be seen in the park, as they hunt, sun themselves on rocks, or scan the grounds for carrion. After dark, more owls emerge from their daytime respite to hunt the many rodents and small animals of the park, including the American barn owl, great horned owl, long-eared owl, and the northern saw-whet owl. Additionally, nighttime sees several bat species take-flight, sometimes by the thousands, as they hunt the swarms of various flying insects in the park, or, dependent on species, feed on cactus blossoms and other sources of nectar, thus making the flying mammals vital insect controllers and plant pollinators. Known from Joshua Tree are the big brown bat, California myotis, canyon bats, little brown bats, Mexican free-tailed bats, Nyctinomops bats, pallid bats, Townsend's big-eared bat, and the western bonneted (mastiff) and western yellow bat.
Many of the park's larger mammals prefer to rest in burrows, caves, or other protected hiding spots during the hottest portions of the day, with many being crepuscular in their habits (i.e. most active at sunset and sunrise) and resting sporadically throughout the day and night. Reclusive, but nocturnally-active, mammalian species include the American badger, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, desert bighorn sheep, gray fox, kangaroo rat, mountain lion, mule deer and ringtail. Occasional sightings (or scat observations) of American black bear have occurred, with the bears likely roaming or exploring from the nearby San Gabriel Mountains (where they are more common). However, no known breeding population of black bear is known to exist permanently within park bounds, as it is likely that Joshua Tree's lower elevation and desert environment is simply unable to support bears long-term.
Herpetiles are very plentiful in the park; among the many snakes are several species of rattlesnake (Crotalus sp.), kingsnake (Lampropeltis sp.), coastal rosy boa (Lichanura orcutti), ground snakes and shovelnose snakes (Sonora sp.), desert nightsnakes (Hypsigiena sp.) and racers and coachwhips (Masticophis sp.), among others. Other species most active at night include banded geckos (Coleonyx sp). The desert tortoise, a threatened reptile species that inhabits the creosote (Larrea tridentata)-studded lowlands of the Mojave Desert, is well-adapted to arid conditions; instead of drinking water directly, most of the tortoise's water is obtained from consuming the creosote bush as well as prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) pads and fruits, amongst other desert plants. The creosote is not only a favorite food for the desert tortoise, but is also one of the primary plants eaten by the chuckwalla, a large, diurnal lizard species. Amphibians, though few, are still present near water sources; the California tree frog (Pseudacris cadaverina) is found in greener, lush areas adjacent to permanent water sources (often created by the Pinto Fault), such as along the northern edge of the park, as well as near natural seeps and rocky areas that collect pooled water. The red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus) is a true denizen of the desert, as it spends most of its life buried underground in a state of torpor, awaiting seasonal rains to emerge and breed en masse.
The tarantula species Aphonopelma iodium, the green darner (Anax junius) and the giant desert scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) are three larger arthropods that can grow to be more than 4 inches (10 cm) long. The yucca moth (Tegeticula synthetica) is responsible for pollinating the Joshua trees after which the park is named.
Animals that thrive in Joshua Tree often have special adaptations for dealing with limited water and high summer temperatures. The smaller mammals and all reptiles take refuge from the heat underground. Desert mammals make more efficient use of their bodies' water supply than the human body. Reptiles are physiologically adapted to thrive with little water, while most birds can fly to water when they most need to drink. Nevertheless, the many hidden springs and seeps in the park are vital for the survival of all resident animals. The majority of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and many small mammals go into an inactive state of hibernation (or torpor) during the colder months. By comparison, winter is the time of greatest birdwatching opportunities in the park, with the region being a prime "rest-stop" for many migratory species on their annual flights to warmer locales.
