<P> The Great Plains cover most of the western two - thirds of South Dakota . West of the Missouri River the landscape becomes more arid and rugged, consisting of rolling hills, plains, ravines, and steep flat - topped hills called buttes . In the south, east of the Black Hills, lie the South Dakota Badlands . Erosion from the Black Hills, marine skeletons which fell to the bottom of a large shallow sea that once covered the area, and volcanic material all contribute to the geology of this area . </P> <P> The Black Hills are in the southwestern part of South Dakota and extend into Wyoming . This range of low mountains covers 6,000 sq mi (16,000 km), with peaks that rise from 2,000 to 4,000 feet (600 to 1,200 m) above their bases . The Black Hills are the location of Black Elk Peak (7,242 ft or 2,207 m above sea level), the highest point in South Dakota and also the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains . Two billion - year - old Precambrian formations, the oldest rocks in the state, form the central core of the Black Hills . Formations from the Paleozoic Era form the outer ring of the Black Hills; these were created between roughly 540 and 250 million years ago . This area features rocks such as limestone, which were deposited here when the area formed the shoreline of an ancient inland sea . </P> <P> Much of South Dakota (except for the Black Hills area) is dominated by a temperate grasslands biome . Although grasses and crops cover most of this region, deciduous trees such as cottonwoods, elms, and willows are common near rivers and in shelter belts . Mammals in this area include bison, deer, pronghorn, coyotes, and prairie dogs . The state bird, the ring - necked pheasant, has adapted well to the area after being introduced from China . Growing populations of bald eagles are spread throughout the state, especially near the Missouri River . Rivers and lakes of the grasslands support populations of walleye, carp, pike, bass, and other species . The Missouri River also contains the pre-historic paddlefish . </P> <P> Due to a higher elevation and level of precipitation, the Black Hills ecology differs significantly from the plains . The mountains are thickly blanketed by various types of pines, including ponderosa and lodgepole pines, as well as spruces . Black Hills mammals include deer, elk (wapiti), bighorn sheep, mountain goats, pine marten, and mountain lions, while the streams and lakes contain several species of trout . </P>

What kind of animals are in south dakota
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