Discover The 5 Largest Animals In Arizona, And Where You’ll Find Them

Written by Christina Eck
Updated: April 29, 2023
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Arizona is known as The Grand Canyon State or the Copper State. Still, it is also known for housing some of the most interesting desert wildlife. The state is located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is known for its deep canyons, deserts, natural rock formations, and volcanic mountain ranges. With the state’s topography, many animals live there, some surprisingly large.

The Five Largest Animals In Arizona

When you think of Arizona animals, you likely think of scorpions, snakes, and the like. However, Arizona has many large animals, including mammals, insects, and fish. So, let’s take a closer look to discover the largest animals in Arizona and where you’ll find them!

Largest Fish In Arizona: Flathead Catfish

Catfish, Fish, Mississippi River, Underwater, USA

The flathead

catfish

is the largest fish in Arizona.

©iStock.com/stammphoto

While the flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) isn’t native to Arizona, the species has existed since its introduction in the early 1940s. You can find flathead catfish in the state’s lower Colorado River and other lakes such as Havasu, Mead, etc. It’s one of the largest animals in Arizona, specifically the biggest fish.

In terms of looks, the catfish is known for its distinctive flattened head. Its body includes dark brown to yellow-brown coloring, with its belly being yellowish-white. The species are known to grow 50 inches long and can weigh 100 lbs or more. 

Despite the species’ average size, an angler found the largest flathead catfish in Arizona in Bartlett Lake, which weighs 76.52 lbs by an angler. The species is known for being a sporting fish breed, where anglers enjoy the thrill of catching it via rod, reel, or even their bare hands.

Largest Bird In Arizona: Ferruginous Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk on a branch in the Arizona Desert.

Ferruginous hawk on a branch in the Arizona Desert, one of the largest animals in Arizona.

©Steve Bruckmann/Shutterstock.com

The Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) is known for its size, and its wings span spreads 48 to 62 inches, making it one of the largest animals in Arizona. While not common everywhere in Arizona, the hawk tends to live where there are plenty of small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They can be found in northern Arizona, outside of Tucson, from October until March.

You can distinctively tell the Ferruginous hawk from other hawks due to some key physical characteristics such as their pale rusty brown color. Their heads are also light in color and have distinctive dark marks on their cheeks. Unlike other hawks, their wings are broad and rounded, with distinctively short tails compared to others.

The females are generally the bigger birds out of the two sexes. Their length ranges from 20 inches to 28 inches. Females weigh around 2.7 lbs, while males end up 2.3 lbs. 

Largest Mammal In Arizona: Bison

bison

The bison is the largest animal in Arizona as well as the largest in North America.

©Tim Malek/Shutterstock.com

The American Buffalo, the Bison (Bison bonasus), is the largest animal in Arizona and North America. In Arizona, the Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) manages two bison herds, one in the Raymond Wildlife Area and the other in North Kaibab and House Rock Wildlife Area.

The largest bison in Arizona was found in 2002 and weighed 3,800 lbs while standing seven feet tall. However, the average bison tends to weigh 2,000 lbs and stand at six feet. 

Bison can be found in grasslands, meadows, and woodlands, which are perfect for grazing. Unfortunately, Bison populations are much smaller than a hundred years ago due to hunting. The species almost went extinct, but wildlife protection has ensured that the bison are protected.

Largest Reptile In Arizona: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

The Western Diamondback

Rattlesnake

is the largest snake in Arizona and the most venomous snake in America.

©Alexander Wong/Shutterstock.com

The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is the largest, with 52 species of snakes in Arizona. It’s a species of the pit viper family and is the most venomous snake in America. The snake is known for its iconic rattle on the end of its tail, which takes the shape of a diamond-shaped pattern. 

Previously, Gopher snakes were the longest snakes in Arizona, but this changed when someone discovered a 15-foot Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. It was the largest ever caught for the species and was found near the St. Augustine outlet in Mesa, AZ. 

The Diamondback grows from 4 to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 15 lbs. They can be found in hiking areas, rocky canyons, and mountains where they can find prey. The underbrush and trees allow small critters to hide, perfect for the snake to hunt.

Largest Insect In Arizona: Palo Verde Beetle

Palo verde insect

The palo verde beetle is the largest beetle in Arizona reaching up to 3.5 inches in length.

©(2,048 × 1,464 pixels, file size: 1.75 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg) – License

As for the largest insect, the Palo Verde Beetle (Derbrachus hovorei) can reach up to 3.5 inches in length. The average Palo Verde Beetle’s larvae can reach up to five inches long, while the adult beetle is between three and a half inches.

It is known for its massive size and flies throughout summer. While its size may be intimidating, it’s harmless and does not bite or sting.

In summer, the Palo Verde Beetle can be found pollinating flowers and helping decompose leaves. Their life cycle is fairly short, and most of which are lived as larvae. Once the Palo Verde becomes fully grown, they sprout wings and will fly.

Are These The Only Large Animals In Arizona?

Arizona houses more than 800 species, which means that there are many large animals in the state. Some of them include the following:

What Do You Think Of The Five Largest Animals In Arizona?

As you can see, there are plenty of large animals in Arizona. With the state having multiple types of environments, plenty of species are inhabiting it. If you like learning about large animals, consider reading more about the other largest animals in different states!

Summary Of The 5 Largest Animals In Arizona

RankAnimalSize
1Flathead Catfish50 inches long and can weigh 100 lbs or more
2Ferruginous HawkLength from 20 inches to 28 inches; wingspan of 48 to 62 inches
3BisonAverage weight of 2,000 lbs and six feet tall
4Western Diamondback Rattlesnake4 to 6 feet in length
5Palo Verde Beetleup to 3.5 inches in length

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/pmphoto


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About the Author

Christina Eck is a writer at A-Z Animals, primarily focusing on animals and travel. Christina has been writing about and researching animals for more than seven years. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, which she earned in 2019. As a resident of Washington State, Christina enjoys hiking, playing with her dog, and writing fiction and non-fiction pieces.

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