KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of Lake Baikal

Siberia, Russia

Lake Baikal is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 2,754 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

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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. Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus551
  2. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo358
  3. White Wagtail Motacilla alba296
  4. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus281
  5. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica222
  6. Carrion Crow Corvus corone213
  7. Common Merganser Mergus merganser198
  8. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea162
  9. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus159
  10. Black Kite Milvus migrans149

Plants

  1. Scots pine Pinus sylvestris1,458
  2. Siberian larch Larix sibirica960
  3. Siberian pine Pinus sibirica950
  4. Spiny pennywort Orostachys spinosa749
  5. Siberian fir Abies sibirica554
  6. Elephant's-ears Bergenia crassifolia527
  7. Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii520
  8. Siberian spruce Picea obovata471
  9. Daurian rhododendron Rhododendron dauricum465
  10. Astragalus sericeocanus461

Mammals

  1. Siberian Chipmunk Eutamias sibiricus175
  2. Baikal Seal Pusa sibirica115
  3. Long-tailed Ground Squirrel Urocitellus undulatus64

Insects

  1. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis127
  2. Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae69
  3. Old World Swallowtail Papilio machaon60
  4. Nomion Apollo Parnassius nomion51
  5. Yellow-winged Darter Sympetrum flaveolum48

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.