This distinction is further made by plant, animal, and insect species that are common in both the Sandia-Manzano Mountains and in other mountainous areas to the south, but diminish quickly in the mountains to the north. These include Quercus turbinella, Opuntia engelmannii, Aloysia wrightii, and the western diamondback rattlesnake. However, at higher elevations in the Sandia-Manzano Mountains, a strong climatically driven Rocky Mountain biotic element exists.