State Wildlife Action Plan

The Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion encompasses 69,900 km2 (26,989 mi2) of the southern third of New Mexico and represents the northern boundary of 510,159 km2 (196,973 mi2) of contiguous warm desert that extends southward into central Mexico. In New Mexico, elevations range from 850-2,600 m (2,800-8,550 ft). Terrain consists of broad basins bordered by isolated, rugged mountains. The ecoregion is arid, marked by hot summers and mild winters. Mean annual temperatures are 17-20 oC (63-68 oF) and annual precipitation averages 34 cm (10.4 in) (range: 20-64 cm (6-20 in)), most of which falls in summer.