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Learn the wildlife of the U.S. national parks

Learn the wildlife of White Sands National Park

NM

419 species have research-grade observations inside White Sands National Park on iNaturalist. KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos, so you know what you're looking at before you go.

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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. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica92
  2. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus41
  3. Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya31
  4. House Sparrow Passer domesticus28
  5. Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata18
  6. Sagebrush Sparrow Artemisiospiza nevadensis17
  7. White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys16
  8. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus15
  9. Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus15
  10. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis15

Plants

  1. Soaptree yucca Yucca elata780
  2. Purple sand verbena Abronia angustifolia649
  3. Kingcup Cactus Echinocereus triglochidiatus273
  4. Frosted Mint Poliomintha incana181
  5. Hartweg's Sundrops Oenothera hartwegii162
  6. Iodinebush Allenrolfea occidentalis123
  7. Fourwing Saltbush Atriplex canescens121
  8. Rubber Rabbitbrush Ericameria nauseosa90
  9. Torrey's Jointfir Ephedra torreyana90
  10. Pale Evening Primrose Oenothera pallida79

Mammals

  1. Pallid Bat Antrozous pallidus30
  2. Gemsbok Oryx gazella18
  3. Spotted Ground Squirrel Xerospermophilus spilosoma4
  4. American Badger Taxidea taxus2
  5. Kit Fox Vulpes macrotis2
  6. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus2
  7. Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus2
  8. North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum2
  9. Coyote Canis latrans1
  10. Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii1

Insects

  1. Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle Eleodes hispilabris133
  2. Convergent Lady Beetle Hippodamia convergens46
  3. Eleodes caudifera39
  4. Western Pygmy-Blue Brephidium exilis29
  5. Nevada Buck Moth Hemileuca nevadensis28
  6. Eleodes acuta26
  7. Tablelands Flag-Bearer Diceroprocta eugraphica19
  8. White-lined Sphinx Hyles lineata17
  9. Mesquite Girdler Oncideres rhodosticta17
  10. Painted Lady Vanessa cardui14

Spiders and kin

  1. Western Black Widow Latrodectus hesperus5
  2. Western Spotted Orbweaver Neoscona oaxacensis5
  3. Geolycosa rafaelana5
  4. Desert Red Jumping Spider Phidippus ardens3
  5. Eastern sand scorpion Paruroctonus utahensis2
  6. Habronattus amicus2
  7. Phidippus octopunctatus1
  8. Banded Garden Spider Argiope trifasciata1
  9. California Flattened Jumping Spider Platycryptus californicus1
  10. Metaphidippus chera1

Reptiles

  1. Western Earless Lizard Holbrookia maculata431
  2. Southwestern Fence Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi125
  3. Common Side-blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana57
  4. Mediterranean House Gecko Hemidactylus turcicus6
  5. Eastern Collared Lizard Crotaphytus collaris5
  6. Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Crotalus atrox4
  7. Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer3
  8. Prairie Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis3
  9. Common Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum3
  10. Roundtail Horned Lizard Phrynosoma modestum2

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 National Park Service. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.