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Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of the Redwood Forests of California

California, United States

Rhe Redwood Forests of California is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 11,754 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

Northern California coastal forests ecoregion

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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. White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys6,573
  2. California Quail Callipepla californica5,731
  3. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis5,441
  4. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis5,326
  5. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias5,121
  6. Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo4,838
  7. Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia4,787
  8. Common Raven Corvus corax4,623
  9. Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri4,602
  10. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis4,449

Plants

  1. Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens16,445
  2. Pacific trillium Trillium ovatum14,033
  3. Western sword fern Polystichum munitum9,323
  4. Evergreen Huckleberry Vaccinium ovatum9,029
  5. Redwood Sorrel Oxalis smalliana8,910
  6. Tanoak Notholithocarpus densiflorus8,723
  7. Thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus7,580
  8. Orange bush monkeyflower Diplacus aurantiacus6,859
  9. Pacific poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum6,597
  10. Andrews' Clintonia Clintonia andrewsiana6,281

Mammals

  1. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus12,943
  2. Wapiti Cervus canadensis6,699
  3. Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina3,872
  4. Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris3,847
  5. Coyote Canis latrans2,984
  6. Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani2,776
  7. Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus2,733
  8. Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus2,412
  9. Bobcat Lynx rufus2,024
  10. North American River Otter Lontra canadensis1,923

Insects

  1. Gray Buckeye Junonia grisea2,889
  2. California Sister Adelpha californica2,499
  3. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera2,417
  4. Variable Checkerspot Euphydryas chalcedona2,213
  5. Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta2,179
  6. Seven-spotted Lady Beetle Coccinella septempunctata2,165
  7. Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica undecimpunctata2,033
  8. Spotted Tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata2,022
  9. Acmon Blue Icaricia acmon1,928
  10. California Tortoiseshell Nymphalis californica1,813

Spiders and kin

  1. Western Forest Scorpion Uroctonus mordax1,600
  2. Cross Orbweaver Araneus diadematus1,518
  3. California Turret Spider Atypoides riversi1,186
  4. Johnson's Jumping Spider Phidippus johnsoni1,147
  5. Goldenrod Crab Spider Misumena vatia879

Reptiles

  1. Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis9,084
  2. Northern Alligator Lizard Elgaria coerulea3,450
  3. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans3,402
  4. Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer2,234
  5. Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis1,981
  6. Aquatic Garter Snake Thamnophis atratus1,751
  7. Southern Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata1,402
  8. Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus1,283
  9. Western Rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus1,205
  10. Northwestern Pond Turtle Actinemys marmorata1,171

Amphibians

  1. Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii11,295
  2. California Slender Salamander Batrachoseps attenuatus10,991
  3. Pacific chorus frog Pseudacris regilla6,331
  4. California Newt Taricha torosa4,815
  5. Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa4,227
  6. Pacific Giant Salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus2,813
  7. California Giant Salamander Dicamptodon ensatus2,688
  8. Foothill Yellow-legged Frog Rana boylii1,952
  9. Arboreal Salamander Aneides lugubris1,920
  10. Northern Red-legged Frog Rana aurora1,714

Mollusks

  1. Pacific Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianus10,429
  2. Button's Banana Slug Ariolimax buttoni9,420
  3. Slender Banana Slug Ariolimax dolichophallus6,319
  4. California Banana Slug Ariolimax californicus4,295
  5. Opalescent Nudibranch Hermissenda opalescens2,696
  6. Garden Snail Cornu aspersum2,559
  7. Hopkins' Rose Nudibranch Ceratodoris rosacea2,381
  8. Spotted Dorid Triopha maculata2,112
  9. California Mussel Mytilus californianus2,073
  10. Gumboot Chiton Cryptochiton stelleri1,946

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.