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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.

5,142
recent observations
30
species listed
20
plants
4
reptiles & amphibians
4
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 5,142 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in White Sands. The most frequently seen is the Soaptree Yucca, with 990 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
990 observations
Purple Sand Verbena
Abronia angustifolia
753 observations · iNaturalist
Western Earless Lizard
Holbrookia maculata
566 observations
Kingcup Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
295 observations
Frosted Mint
Poliomintha incana
208 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Striped Whiptail
Aspidoscelis arizonae
192 observations · iNaturalist
Hartweg's Sundrops
Oenothera hartwegii
188 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Fence Lizard
Sceloporus cowlesi
173 observations
Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle
Eleodes hispilabris
163 observations · iNaturalist
Iodinebush
Allenrolfea occidentalis
145 observations · iNaturalist
Fourwing Saltbush
Atriplex canescens
145 observations
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
107 observations · iNaturalist
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
105 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
100 observations
Torrey's Jointfir
Ephedra torreyana
97 observations · iNaturalist
Pale Evening Primrose
Oenothera pallida
93 observations
Rayless Greenthread
Thelesperma megapotamicum
90 observations · iNaturalist
Alkali Sacaton
Sporobolus airoides
77 observations · iNaturalist
Upright Blazingstar
Mentzelia procera
77 observations · iNaturalist
Sand Fiddleleaf
Nama carnosa
72 observations · iNaturalist
Gypsum Centaury
Zeltnera maryanniana
63 observations · iNaturalist
Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
58 observations
Catchfly Prairie Gentian
Eustoma exaltatum
56 observations · iNaturalist
White Sands Fanmustard
Nerisyrenia linearifolia
52 observations · iNaturalist
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
51 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
49 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
49 observations
Sand Ricegrass
Eriocoma hymenoides
45 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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