Desert Grassland and Shrubland
Dripping Springs in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is typical of a desert grassland/shrubland area.
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These are the true desert habitats of the Chihuahuan. Once primarily a grassland desert, the Chihuahuan has become mainly shrubland (or scrub desert as it is often called) through a process called desertification. That means that many of the plants that you typically find in the Chihuahuan are shrubs, such as yuccas, agaves, ocotillos, mesquite, and especially creosote bushes. These plants are well adapted to living in arid areas, and can thrive where many other plants would not survive.
Desert grasslands and shrublands have extreme contrasts in temperatures. At noon on a summer day, the temperature in some areas can reach 180° F (82° C); yet it can be freezing cold and snowing in the same spot in winter. In summer, the difference between midday and middle of the night temperatures is commonly 35° F or more. Animals and plants have had to learn to live in these extremes, and so have developed physical and lifestyle adaptations different from those of animals in more moderate locations. For example, many animals in the desert are nocturnal because of the cooler temperatures. This is why people often think the desert is barren - the animals are asleep when most people are looking for them.
Water loss in the desert is the biggest concern for most living creatures, including human. So remember, when you come to explore the desert wear proper clothes and bring your own water with you. Water is often hard to find, and a person in the desert needs 1 gallon (4 liters) per day if active.