BIODIVERSITY, FLORA AND FAUNA

North American wildlife is the flora and fauna of the Nearctic region, which consists of most of North
America; Greenland, the continental parts of Canada and the United States, and inland Mexico. The
region borders the Central and South American wildlife region. The north, (including the Canadian
shield), is made up of tundra and boreal forest. The harsh winters put pressure on animals and plants
here, limiting the number of species.

Animals

Carnivores

North America is famous for its many carnivores, especially bears, wolves, foxes, coyotes, lynx, bobcats,
and cougars (mountain lions). Jaguars (Panthera onca) range throughout Mexico, Central America, and
the southwestern United States. These carnivores make up keystone species for their ecosystems. Many
of them have been endangered, or locally extinct during the 20th century, but are recovering.

Ungulates

The American bison (Bison bison), also called the buffalo, is not closely related to the Asian water buffalo
(Bubalus bubalis) or the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). It is the heaviest endemic land animal on the
continent. The bison used to be a dominant species of the Great Plains until modern times.

Skunks are notorious for their pungent, stinky spray, so don't get close. Most have a distinctive black
and white striped pattern.

Squirrels are very common in suburban and even urban areas. The chipmunk is something like a smaller,
cuter version of a squirrel with a striped back.

Turkeys are indigenous to North America, of which there are two species; the wild turkey (Meleagris
gallopavo), from which the domestic turkey was derived, is found in much of the eastern half of the
United States,

Plants

Carnivorous plants

The Venus flytrap is native to an area of North and South Carolina within a 60-mile (100-km) radius of
Wilmington. Other carnivorous plants (sundews, pitcher plants, bladderworts, and butterworts) can be
seen in the area as well. Try Carolina Beach State Park, Croatan National Forest near the Crystal Coast, or
Green Swamp near Wilmington.

Flowers

The bright orange California poppy covers hillsides in parts of California, where it's the state flower, in
spring, summer, and fall. One good place to see the flowers is Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
in Antelope Valley.
Trees

Redwoods are a subfamily of trees including the tallest and the largest trees in the world, found only in
California and Oregon (the closely related trees in China are much smaller). These trees can live
thousands of years and have a complex and fascinating life cycle involving cones that grow after
wildfires. Though they are endangered due to human activity, you can see them in beautiful nature
reserves like Muir Woods near San Francisco.