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Wildlife in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

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

3,736
recent observations
30
species listed
19
plants
3
birds
4
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 3,736 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Carlsbad Caverns. The most frequently seen is the Ocotillo, with 317 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (19 of the species listed here), followed by birds (3).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Carlsbad Caverns

Ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
317 observations
Texas Mountain Laurel
Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
296 observations · iNaturalist
Agarita
Berberis trifoliolata
217 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
181 observations
Smooth Sotol
Dasylirion leiophyllum
170 observations
Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
154 observations · iNaturalist
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
150 observations
Lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
144 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
143 observations
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
136 observations
Aoudad
Ammotragus lervia
123 observations
Mexican Buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa
119 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Rainbow Cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
119 observations
Texas Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus chloranthus
116 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
106 observations
Cave Swallow
Petrochelidon fulva
101 observations
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
100 observations · iNaturalist
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
100 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Millipede
Orthoporus ornatus
95 observations · iNaturalist
American Rubyspot
Hetaerina americana
92 observations
Redberry Juniper
Juniperus pinchotii
84 observations · iNaturalist
Western Soapberry
Sapindus drummondii
81 observations · iNaturalist
Whitecolumn Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria tuberculosa
80 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tesselatus
77 observations
Button Cactus
Epithelantha micromeris
76 observations · iNaturalist
Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
75 observations
Queen
Danaus gilippus
74 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus collaris
70 observations
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
70 observations
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
Aspidoscelis exsanguis
70 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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