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