Monte Desert not only common, but tall cacti even appear in the more hospitable areas of the desert. The fauna of the area is also very similar to that of the Patagonian Desert, only in greater diversity and number due to the Monte's more hospitable conditions. Small mammals like mice abound and larger animals like the guanaco and burrowing owl can be found as well. Monte Desert The Monte Desert is a South American ecoregion, lying entirely within Argentina and covering approximately the submontane areas of Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, San Luis and Mendoza Provinces, plus the western half of La
Zieria formosa rhyolite rock across three private properties. This zieria is listed as "Critically Endangered" under the New South Wales "Threatened Species Conservation Act" and as "Endangered" under the Commonwealth Government "Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999" (EPBC) Act. The main threats to the species are changes to agricultural practices and trampling by livestock. Zieria formosa Zieria formosa, commonly known as the shapely zieria, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area on the south coast of New South Wales. It is a dense, rounded shrub with velvety, clover-like leaves composed of three leaflets.