KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of the Gibber Plains

Central Australia

Ghe Gibber Plains is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 2,324 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

Tirari-Sturt stony desert

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Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae396
  2. Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens373
  3. Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata316
  4. Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax246
  5. Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes237
  6. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis226
  7. Galah Eolophus roseicapilla212
  8. Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides208
  9. White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata208
  10. White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus207

Plants

  1. Sturt's Desert Pea Swainsona formosa451
  2. Cotton bush Ptilotus obovatus250
  3. Velvet potato bush Solanum lithophilum233
  4. Dead Finish Acacia tetragonophylla182
  5. Silver senna Senna artemisioides166
  6. Bladder-dock Rumex vesicarius166
  7. Harlequin Mistletoe Lysiana exocarpi164
  8. Native apricot Pittosporum angustifolium151
  9. Ruby saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa132
  10. Rock Isotome Lithotoma petraea115

Mammals

  1. Common Wallaroo Osphranter robustus300
  2. Red Kangaroo Osphranter rufus280
  3. Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus222
  4. Domestic Goat Capra hircus125
  5. Domestic Dog Canis familiaris51
  6. Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata48
  7. Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus43
  8. Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat Lasiorhinus latifrons35
  9. European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus32
  10. Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby Petrogale xanthopus28

Insects

  1. Meadow Argus Junonia villida129
  2. Australian Striped Hawk Moth Hyles livornicoides125
  3. Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis95
  4. Double-spotted Line Blue Nacaduba biocellata91
  5. Southern Moon Moth Dasypodia selenophora87
  6. Green Carab Beetle Calosoma schayeri79
  7. Saltbush Blue Theclinesthes serpentatus77
  8. Red-spotted Jezebel Delias aganippe76
  9. Lime Swallowtail Papilio demoleus74
  10. Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia72

Spiders and kin

  1. Australian Golden Orbweaver Trichonephila edulis101
  2. Redback Spider Latrodectus hasselti58
  3. Tailed Forest Spider Argiope protensa30
  4. Southern Grey Huntsman Isopedella cerussata19
  5. Two-toned wolf spider Hoggicosa bicolor19
  6. Central Banded Huntsman Holconia nigrigularis16
  7. Stirling's Australian Tarantula Selenocosmia stirlingi15

Reptiles

  1. Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps649
  2. Shingleback Tiliqua rugosa408
  3. Sand Monitor Varanus gouldii222
  4. Common Prickly Gecko Heteronotia binoei156
  5. Curl Snake Suta suta146
  6. Peninsula Rock Dragon Ctenophorus fionni136
  7. Painted Dragon Ctenophorus pictus124
  8. Barrier Range Rock Dragon Ctenophorus mirrityana120
  9. Eastern tree dtella Gehyra versicolor117
  10. Gidgee Skink Egernia stokesii113

Amphibians

  1. Desert Tree Frog Colleeneremia rubella106
  2. Desert Trilling Frog Neobatrachus sudelli92
  3. Eastern Water-holding Frog Cyclorana platycephala15
  4. Spotted Marsh Frog Limnodynastes tasmaniensis14

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

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Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.