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Wildlife in Death Valley National Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Death Valley right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

29,447
recent observations
30
species listed
26
plants
2
reptiles & amphibians
1
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 29,447 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Death Valley. The most frequently seen is the Creosote Bush, with 2,346 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (26 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (2).

Rarer finds confirmed in Death Valley include Desert Five-spot - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Desert Five-spot
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Death Valley

Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
2,346 observations
Desert Holly
Atriplex hymenelytra
1,831 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Sunflower
Geraea canescens
1,656 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Fivespot
Eremalche rotundifolia
1,607 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
1,456 observations
Cottontop Cactus
Homalocephala polycephala
1,399 observations · iNaturalist
Beavertail Pricklypear
Opuntia basilaris
1,277 observations
Caltha-leaf Phacelia
Phacelia calthifolia
1,265 observations · iNaturalist
Gravel Ghost
Atrichoseris platyphylla
1,205 observations · iNaturalist
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
Phacelia crenulata
1,177 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Rock Nettle
Eucnide urens
1,126 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Suncup
Chylismia brevipes
962 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Desert-snapdragon
Mohavea breviflora
949 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Trumpet
Eriogonum inflatum
844 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
837 observations · iNaturalist
Devil's Spineflower
Chorizanthe rigida
827 observations · iNaturalist
Browneyes
Chylismia claviformis
797 observations · iNaturalist
Mojave Woodyaster
Xylorhiza tortifolia
746 observations · iNaturalist
Apricot Globemallow
Sphaeralcea ambigua
669 observations
Western Joshua Tree
Yucca brevifolia
664 observations
Zebra-tailed Lizard
Callisaurus draconoides
654 observations
Donkey
Equus asinus
630 observations
Purple Mat
Nama demissa
586 observations · iNaturalist
Turtleback
Psathyrotes ramosissima
577 observations · iNaturalist
Bigelow's Monkeyflower
Diplacus bigelovii
568 observations · iNaturalist
Silver Cholla
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
565 observations · iNaturalist
Iodinebush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
564 observations · iNaturalist
Honeysweet
Tidestromia suffruticosa
558 observations · iNaturalist
Death Valley Sage
Salvia funerea
555 observations · iNaturalist
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
550 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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