Explore This Park

A Checklist of Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects of White Sands National Monument

INTRODUCTION

Forty-four species of mammals, twenty-six species of reptiles, six species of amphibians and nearly 100 families of insects have been recorded within White Sands National Monument. Most animals inhabit the margins of the dune field and the adjacent desert plain.

As in other deserts, most animals that live here are nocturnal. In order to conserve water and avoid extreme heat, many desert animals stay underground during the day, emerging from their burrows after sunset to search for food. Evidence of their activities can be found in the sand the next morning. The Big Dune Nature Trail is a good place to search for animal tracks and sign.

Even at night, dark animals are easily spotted against the white background of the gypsum sand, making them easy victims for predators. Some small animals, including the Apache pocket mouse, the Bleached Earless Lizard, the Cowles Prairie Lizard, and numerous insects, have evolved a white coloration that camouflages them in the dunes.

Animals are rarely seen within the center of the dune field. The extreme temperatures and the lack of food, shelter and standing water combine to restrict their number. But they are here, even in the heart of the dunes. Like plants, most animals are found in the interdune flats. During the day, watch for darkling beetles, lizards and birds venturing onto the sand. At night, pocket mice and kangaroo rats forage for seeds, and kit fox hunt the mice and rats.

The rare White Sands Pupfish, the only fish native to the Tularosa Basin, can be found in Lost River, a stream that originates in the Sacramento Mountains. Lost River enters the eastern part of the dune field and flows through the park about two miles before disappearing in the sand.

The oryx, or gemsbok, is a large (450 pounds) African antelope that now lives in southern New Mexico. Oryx were introduced onto the White Sands Missile Range by the state of New Mexico to establish a huntable big game population. Oryx have successfully adapted to the area and have spread throughout the Tularosa Basin, including White Sands National Monument. The National Park Service considers the oryx to be a threat to the park's native plants and animals and has fenced the monument boundary to exclude the oryx.

CHECKLIST OF MAMMALS
(A) Abundant (C) Common (R) Rare
Taxidea taxus	Badger (C)
Tadarida macrotis	Bat; Big freetail (R)
Tadarida brasiliensis	Bat; Brazilian freetail (O)
Myotis californicus	Bat; California Myotis (O)
Antrozous pallidus	Bat; Pallid (C)
Lasionycteris noctovagans	Bat; Silver-haired (R)
Lynx rufus	Bobcat (R)
Sylvilagus audoboni	Cottontail; Desert (C)
Canis latrans	*Coyote (C)
Urocyon cinereoargenteus	*Fox; Grey (C)
Vulpes marcrotis	*Fox; Kit (C)
Geomys arenarius	*Gopher; Desert pocket (C)
Pappogeomys castanops	Gopher; Yellow-faced pocket (R)
Spermophilus spilosoma	Ground squirrel; Spotted (O)
Lepus californicus	Jackrabbit; Blacktail (C)
Dipodomys spectabilis	*Kangaroo rat; Bannertail (C)
Dipodomys merriami	Kangaroo rat; Merriam's (R)
Dipodomys ordii	Kangaroo rat; Ord (C)
Felis concolor	Mountain Lion (R)
Peromyscus eremicus	Mouse; Cactus (R)
Peromyscus maniculatus	Mouse; Deer (C)
Onychomys leucogaster	Mouse; Northern grasshopper (R)
Onychomys torridus	Mouse; Southern grasshopper (R)
Perognatus penicillatus	Mouse; Desert pocket (C)
Perognathus flavescens Apachii	*Mouse; Apache pocket (C)
Perognathus intermedius	Mouse; Rock pocket (C)
Perognathus flavus	Mouse; Silky pocket (R)
Reithrodontomys megalotis	Mouse; Western harvest (R)
Peromyscus leucopus	Mouse; White-footed (C)
Odocoileus hemionus	Mule deer (R)
Didelphis virginiana	Opossum; Virginia (R)
Oryx gazella	*Oryx; African (C)
Erethizon dorsatum	Porcupine (C)
Cynomys ludovicianus	Prairie dog; Blacktail (R)
Antilocapra americana	Pronghorn (extirpated)
Sigmodon hispidus	Rat; Hispid cotton (O)
Bassariscus astutus	Ringtail cat (R)
Notiosorex crawfordi	Shrew; Desert (O)
Conepatus mesoleucus	*Skunk; Hog-nosed (R)
Mephitis mephitis	*Skunk; Striped (R)
Mustela frenata	Weasel; Longtailed (O)
Neotoma mexicana	Woodrat; Mexican (C)
Neotoma micropus	Woodrat; Southern plains (C)
Neotoma albigula	Woodrat; White-throated (C)
*These frequent both marginal and interior dunes. Others are found mostly on marginal dunes.
CHECKLIST OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
(A) Abundant (C) Common (R) Rare
Non-Poisonous Snakes
Sonora episcopa	Ground snake (R)
Arizona elegans philipi	Painted desert glossy snake (R)
Tantilla n. nigriceps	Plains blackheaded snake (C)
Pituophis melanoleucus affinis	Sonora gopher snake (A)
Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus	Texas long-nosed snake (R)
Hypsiglena torquata texana	Texas night snake (C)
Masticophis flagelllum testaceus	Western coachwhip (C)
Heterodon nasicus	Western hognose snake (R)
Gylopion canum	Western hook-nose snake (R)
Poisonous Snakes
Sistrurus catenatus edwardsi	Desert massasauga (R)
Crotalus viridis viridis	Prairie rattlesnake (A)
Crotalus atrox	Western diamondback rattlesnake (C)
Lizards
Crotaphytus collaris	Collared lizard (C)
Sceloporus undulatus consobrinus	Southern prairie lizard (C)
Sceloporus undulatus cowlesi	*Cowles prairie lizard (A)
Uta stansburiana stejnegeri	Desert side-blotched lizard (A)
Sceloporus magister bimaculosus	Desert spiny lizard (C)
Holbrookia texana scitula	*Greater earless lizard (A)
Holbrookia maculata ruthveni	*Bleached earless lizard (A)
Cnemidophorus inornatus	Little striped whiptail (C)
Crotaphytus wislizenii wislizenii	Long-nosed leopard lizard (C)
Cnemidophorus tigris marmoratus	+Marbled whiptail (A)
Cnemidophorus neomexicanus	New Mexican whiptail (C)
Phrynosoma modestum	Round-tailed horned lizard (C)
Phrynosoma cornutum	Texas horned lizard (C)
Turtles
Terrapene ornata luteola	Yellow box turtle (R)
Salamanders
Ambystoma tigrinum mauertium	Barred tiger salamander (R)
Toads
Bufo cognatus	Great plains toad (C)
Bufo punctatus	Red-spotted toad (R)
Spadefoot toads
Scaphiopus couchi	Couchs spadefoot (C)
Scaphiopus bombifrons	Plains spadefoot (C)
Scaphiopus hammondi	Western spadefoot (C)
+(Animals found primarily on the bajada west of Lake Lucero.) *(Animals found only within the dune field.)
Frequency of occurrences refers only to the frequency these animals are encountered and does not indicate the actual abundance of the animal. Special thanks is given to Robert McKeever for his assistance in the preparation of this list.
INSECTS OF WHITE SANDS
ORDER - THYSANURA (Bristletails)
F. Machilidae	Jumping bristletails
F. Lepismatidae	Silverfish
ORDER - COLLEMBOLA (Springtails)
F. Entomobryidae	Common springtails
ORDER - ODONATA (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
F. Libellulidae	Common skimmers
F. Aeshnidae	Darners
F. Coenagrionidae	Narrow-winged damselflies
ORDER - ORTHOPTERA
F. Gryllacrididae	Camel crickets
F. Blattidae	Cockroaches
F. Gryllidae	Crickets
F. Tettigoniidae	Long-horned grasshoppers
F. Mantidae	Mantids
F. Acrididae	Short-horned grasshoppers
F. Phasmatidae	Walking sticks
ORDER - DERMAPTERA (Earwigs)
F. Labiidae	Little earwigs
ORDER - HEMIPTERA (Bugs)
F. Notonectidae	Backswimmers
F. Nabidae	Damsel bugs
F. Belostomatidae	Giant water bugs
F. Coreidae	Leaf-footed bugs
F. Miridae	Leaf or Plant bugs
F. Pyrrhocoridae	Red bugs
F. Corizidae	Scentless plant bugs
F. Lygaeidae	Seed bugs
F. Scutelleridae	Shield-backed bugs
F. Pentatomidae	Stink bugs
F. Corixidae	Water boatmen
F. Gerridae	Water striders
ORDER - HOMOPTERA
F. Aphididae	Aphids
F. Cicadidae	Cicadas
F. Cicadellidae	Leafhoppers
F. Dictyopharidae	Planthoppers
F. Flatidae	Planthoppers
F. Cercopidae	Spittlebugs or Froghoppers
ORDER - NEUROPTERA
F. Myrmeleontidae	Antlions
F. Chrysopidae	Green lacewings
ORDER - COLEOPTERA (Beetles)
F. Anthicidae	Antlike flower beetles
F. Meloidae	Blister beetles
F. Silphidae	Carrion beetles
F. Cleridae	Checkered beetles
F. Elateridae	Click beetles
F. Tenebrionidae	Darkling beetles
F. Dermestidae	Dermestid beetles
F. Oedemeridae	False blister beetles
F. Carabidae	Ground beetles
F. Histeridae	Hister beetles
F. Coccinellidae	Ladybird beetles
F. Chrysomelidae	Leaf beetles
F. Cerambycidae	Long-horned beetles
F. Bupresitidae	Metallic wood-boring beetles
F. Dytiscidae	Predaceous diving beetles
F. Scarabaeidae	Scarab beetles
F. Curculionidae	Snout beetles
F. Malachiidae	Soft-winged flower beetles
F. Cicindelidae	Tiger beetles
F. Hydrophilidae	Water scavenger beetles
F. Bostrichidae	Branch and Twig borers
ORDER - LEPIDOPTERA (Butterflies and Moths)
F. Nymphalidae	Brush-footed butterflies
F. Gelechiidae	Gelechiid moths
F. Saturniidae	Giant silkworm moths
F. Lycaenidae	Gossamer-winged butterflies
F. Danaidae	Milkweed butterflies
F. Noctuidae	Noctuid moths
F. Hesperiidae	Skippers
F. Sphingidae	Sphinx or Hawk moths
F. Papilionidae	Swallowtails
F. Pieridae	Whites, Sulfers, and Orange-tips
F. Incurvaridae	Yucca moths
ORDER - DIPTERA (Flies)
F. Bombyliidae	Bee flies
F. Calliphoridae	Blow flies
F. Tipulidae	Crane flies
F. Sarcophagidae	Flesh flies
F. Syrphidae	Flower flies
F. Tabanidae	Horse and Deer flies
F. Dolichopodidae	Long-legged flies
F. Culicidae	Mosquitoes
F. Otitidae	Picture-winged flies
F. Asilidae	Robber flies
F. Ephydridae	Shore flies
F. Tachinidae	Tachinid flies
ORDER - HYMENOPTERA (Ants, Bees, Wasps)
F. Formicidae	Ants
F. Apidae	Digger, Carpenter, Honey and Bumble bees
F. Cynipidae	Gall wasps and others
F. Ichneumonidae	Ichneumons
F. Megachilidae	Leafcutting bees
F. Halictidae	Mining bees
F. Scoliidae	Scollid wasps
F. Sphecidae	Sphecid wasps
F. Pompilidae	Spider wasps
F. Tiphiidae	Tiphiid wasps and others
F. Mutillidae	Velvet ants
F. Vespidae	Vespid wasps
F. Colletidae	Yellow-faced and Plasterer bees
Arthropods Other Than Insects
CLASS: CHILOPIDA-CENTIPEDES
ORDER - SCHOLOPENDROMORPHA
F. Scolopendridae	Giant desert centipedes
CLASS: ARACHNIDA
ORDER - PEDIPALPIDA Whip-scorpions Vinegeroon
ORDER - SCORPIONIDA Scorpions
ORDER - SOLPUGIDA Wind-scorpions or Solpugids
ORDER - CHELONETHIDA Pseudoscorpions
ORDER - ACARINA Mites and Ticks
ORDER - ARANEIDA Spiders
F. Theridiidae	Comb-footed spiders (Black Widows)
F. Thomisidae	Crab spiders
F. Salticidae	Jumping spiders
F. Araneidae	Orb-weavers
F. Theraphosidae	Tarantulas
F. Lycosidae	Wolf or Ground spiders

Separate checklists of birds and plants of the white sands are available at the monument bookstore.
Revised 1993

Last Updated: Wednesday, 22-Dec-2004