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Wildlife in White Sands National Park

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

4,278
recent observations
30
species listed
20
plants
4
reptiles & amphibians
4
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 4,278 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in White Sands. The most frequently seen is the soaptree yucca, with 700 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (20 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (4).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in White Sands

soaptree yucca
Yucca elata
700 observations
purple sand verbena
Abronia angustifolia
661 observations · iNaturalist
Western Earless Lizard
Holbrookia maculata
558 observations
Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
291 observations
Arizona Striped Whiptail
Aspidoscelis arizonae
179 observations · iNaturalist
Frosted Mint
Poliomintha incana
179 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
152 observations
Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle
Eleodes hispilabris
139 observations · iNaturalist
Hartweg's Sundrops
Oenothera hartwegii
116 observations · iNaturalist
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
105 observations
Torrey's Jointfir
Ephedra torreyana
95 observations · iNaturalist
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
93 observations
Fourwing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
93 observations
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
77 observations · iNaturalist
Iodinebush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
73 observations · iNaturalist
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
71 observations · iNaturalist
Upright Blazingstar
Mentzelia procera
65 observations · iNaturalist
catchfly prairie gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
56 observations · iNaturalist
Rayless Greenthread
Thelesperma megapotamicum
56 observations · iNaturalist
White Sands fanmustard
Nerisyrenia linearifolia
52 observations · iNaturalist
Sand Fiddleleaf
Nama carnosa
51 observations · iNaturalist
Pale Evening Primrose
Oenothera pallida
50 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
49 observations
Christmas cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
49 observations · iNaturalist
Gypsum Centaury
Zeltnera maryanniana
49 observations · iNaturalist
tree cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
47 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
46 observations
Sand Ricegrass
Eriocoma hymenoides
43 observations · iNaturalist
Eleodes caudifera
Eleodes caudifera
42 observations · iNaturalist
Nevada Buck Moth
Hemileuca nevadensis
41 observations · iNaturalist

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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