Colorado

Presented byKimi Ching

Contents

Discovered!...........3Desert................5Plains................9Foothills.............13Montane...............17Subalpine.............21Alpine................25Riparian..............29Sources...............35

Discovered!

In 1876 Colorado was discovered. This land had plains, mountains, foothills, deserts, grasslands and tundra. Colorado has a very high

altitude of 6,000 degrees.

Colorado relief mapsColorado relief maps

DesertThe desert part of Colorado is in the southwestern part of the state. This part's elevation is from 4000 to 5999 ft. above sea level. During the day the temperature can be 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At night it can get to be 30 degrees Fahrenheit!

Here's the desert in fall. Here's the desert in spring.

This is the desert in summer.This is the desert in winter

Desert AnimalsDesert AnimalsThe coyote (left) has a tan coat with rusty brown and gray hairs mixed in, the ends of the hairs may be black. The variety of colors helps to hide the coyote. This animal has a bushy tail and big pointy ears. Coyotes have a keen sense of smell, sharp eye sight, and very good hearing.

The Collared lizard (right) was named this because of the rings around its neck. Its legs are very strong. The collared lizard can grow to be 35 cm. This spices lays eggs. The collared lizard is brightly colored but the female are usually more dully colored

Desert plantsDesert plants

Desert plants have to survive on very Desert plants have to survive on very little water. Many of them have very little water. Many of them have very long roots so they can reach the water long roots so they can reach the water that is deep underground. Some that is deep underground. Some examples of desert plants are the examples of desert plants are the prickly pear cactus (bottom left), sage prickly pear cactus (bottom left), sage brush (above left), the juniper tree brush (above left), the juniper tree (below right), and the barrel cactus (below right), and the barrel cactus (above right).(above right).

Plains

The plains are in the eastern side of Colorado. The elevation is 4000 to 5999 feet above sea

level. The plains don't often get rain.

This is the plains in spring This is the plains in summer

This is the plains in fallThis is the plains in winter.

Plains AnimalsPlains AnimalsThe white tailed jackrabbit (right) has a white tail and rump. During the summer the upper part become pale grayish black except for the tail and rump they are still white.

The harvest mouse (above) is the smallest of all Coloradan rodents. It is a gray brown color, its hind feet are white. It can be from 111-146 mm.

The box turtle (left) has a hard yellow dotted and streaked shell. A difference between male and female is a males innermost toe on the hide leg is turned in the females is not.

Plains plantsPlains plants

Plants in the plains are often brown Plants in the plains are often brown due to the lack of water and many of due to the lack of water and many of the greener plants that you find are the greener plants that you find are often crops. Some examples are corn often crops. Some examples are corn and wheat.and wheat.

Foothills

The foothills elevation is from 6,000 to 7,999 ft. The foothills are located near the mountains.

This is the foothills in spring. This is the foothills in fall.

This is the foothills in winter This is the foothills in summer.

The cotton tailed rabbit (left) is a small animal with little speckled brown fur which becomes white underneath. They have big eyes, long ears, and large hind legs and feet, and and little fluffy tail. They are named after there tails.

The bobcat (above) has spots and stripes all around its body. Facial ruff of fur is noticeable in winter. The under side is also spotted.

The mountain lion (right) other names people call this ca are puma, cougar, painter, and panther. Its fur is a brownish red color with a lighter stomach. It has a black tipped tail that is quite long.

Foothills plantsFoothills plants

The foothills plants have to be able to The foothills plants have to be able to stand on sloped hills so they have stand on sloped hills so they have very strong roots. Some examples of very strong roots. Some examples of foothills plants are the juniper tree foothills plants are the juniper tree (bottom left), the pinyon tree (bottom (bottom left), the pinyon tree (bottom right), and the gambel oak (bottom right), and the gambel oak (bottom center). center).

Montane

The elevation of the Montane life zone is from 8,000 to 9,999 ft.

This is the Moontane zone in spring.

This is the Montane zone in fall.

This is the Montane zone in summer. This is the montane zone in winter.

The black bear (left) is fairly medium sized out of all the bears. The fur color can be from black to a pale brown. The bears muzzle is typically is a light brown yellow color.

The Colorado chipmunk (above) is very close in size to the Uinta chipmunk. Its central dorsal strip is black. It has buff on the side that is orange.

The gray wolf (right) has thick, long fur that is cream color to pale tan. The face is offen more pale. Adults most of the time hve white around their mouth.

Montane plants

Montane plants have to be able to also stand on sloped areas. They have to withstand colder conditions, however. Some examples are the aspen tree (bottom left) and the ponderosa pine (bottom right).

Subalpine

When out of Montane life zone you are in the subalpine life zone. This

zone elevation is from 10,000 to 11,499 ft.

This is the subalpines in spring

This is the subalpines in fall

This is the subalpines in winter.

This is the subalpines in summer.

Elk (above) are light grey, tan, or brown. They have large necks and skinny legs. Male elk are called bulls, females are referred to as cows, and babies are calves.

The lynx (below) hunts at night a avoids humans. It has thick fur that keeps it warm during the winter. Its feet are also furry and when it walks they act like snowshoes. A lynx has such good eyesight that it can see a mouse from 250 feet away!

The snowshoe hare (left) has large ears and big hind feet. In the summer its coat is rusty colored to a grey brown with white on the underside. The tips of the ears are black. During fall they shed and grow a white coat, except for their ears that remain black. They turn white so they can hide in the snow.

Subalpine plantsSubalpine plants

Subalpine plants have to stand on Subalpine plants have to stand on sloped places and they have to sloped places and they have to withstand much colder weather than withstand much colder weather than montane plants. Some examples are montane plants. Some examples are the columbine (bottom left), the the columbine (bottom left), the subalpine fir (bottom center), and the subalpine fir (bottom center), and the indian paintbrush (bottom right).indian paintbrush (bottom right).

Alpine

This life zone is the highest life zone in all of Colorado. Its elevation is 11, 500feet and higher! The weather can

change from very calm and sunny to windy, wet, and stormy super fast.

This is the Alpine in spring.This is the Alpine in summer.

This is the Alpine in fall. This is the Alpine in winter.

The Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (left) are famous for their big curly horns. Males use these powerful horns to fight for mates. Females also have these horns although they are smaller.

The pika (above) is a small grayish brown animal, that is related to the rabbit. It has two teeth on the top of its mouth that are lined up front to back. Pikas also shed in spring like many other mammals, and then shed again in the fall.

The Rocky Mountain goat (right) have black horns and white wool coats. They basically never go below tree line. Billies are larger than nannies and they can weigh up to 250 pounds.

Alpine plantsAlpine plants

Alpine plants have to be able to stand on very steep slopes and withstand very, very cold temperatures.

Riparian

This life zone is found all across the state in different elevations too. This is found by ponds, rivers,

lakes, and large streams.

This is the riparian near a lake.

This is the riparian near a river.

This is how the riparian would look near a pond, marsh, or swamp.

This is the riparian near a sttream.

The moose (below) has dark brown hair and bull antlers can weigh over 50 pounds! They have long legs that make them able to swim well.

The beaver (above) is the largest rodent. It has a flat tail and webbed feet. In about five minutes a beaver can cut down a five foot tree.

The bald eagle (above) is our national bird. It is named for its white head. It is found near reservoirs because there are lots of fish there. It has very large nests that vary in sizes from seven feet to eight feet.

Colorado has many different fish (above) including rainbow trout, mountain white fish, and brown trout.

The Colorado sandhill crane (below) has a long neck and a red forehead with no feathers on its forehead. Its feathers are brownish white. It has very long legs. They have a well-known trumpet like call.

Riparian plants

Riparian plants get more water than most Colorado plants because they live near bodies of water. Some examples of riparian plants are cottonwood trees (bottom left).

How beautiful!

Colorado’s different life zones and animals make it beautiful!

Sources

Our Natural Homes By Sneed B. Collard III

Published in MassachusettsPublished by Charlebrige Publishing

http://images.google.com/images?q=colorado%20relief%20map&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&safe=active&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

http://nisley.mesa.k12.co.us/Students/ColoradoLifezonesInformation.htm

The Colorado Chroniclesvolume 1: Famous colorado men

Authur unknownCopyright 1980

published in Fredrick CoPublished by Platte'n press

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/mojave_animal_page.htmhttp://www.wildlifedepartment.com/lizard.htm

http://www.faunaimportuk.com/caresheets/cscollared.htm

Sources Cont.

http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/huntingspx.asp?SpCode=050138 http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?SpCode=050078http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?SpCode=030980 http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?SpCode=050025

http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?SpCode=051043 http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/lynx.html

http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?SpCode=051060 http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/rocky-mountain-bighorn-

sheep.html http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/wildlifespx.asp?grp=Rabbits

http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/Pika.htm http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/Beaver.htm

http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Birds/SandhillCrane.htm http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Mammals/Mountaingoat.htm http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/Birds/baldeagle.htm

http://nisley.mesa.k12.co.us/students/PlantsandTrees.htm