Editing 3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

{{comic
| number    = 3118
| date      = July 21, 2025
| title     = iNaturalist Animals and Plants
| image     = inaturalist_animals_and_plants_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x508px
| noexpand  = true
| titletext = Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a map of the United States showing, for each state, the name of the animal and plant most commonly reported on the {{w|citizen science}} social network {{w|iNaturalist}}. As the comic notes, these are not the most-encountered species, just the ones reported the most on iNaturalist. iNaturalist is a citizen science social network that shares observations of nature. In some cases the species most reported is an invasive species causing concern, such as brown anole and Amur honeysuckle, while some local species which are actually the most present and observable may escape being fully reported by not being considered worthy of any note.

For some smaller states, the animal and plant names are listed outside the state, with a connector line to the state. Some non-state regions are covered in the title text: the {{w|District of Columbia}}, too small to list such information on the district itself and in an awkward location for a connector; {{w|Puerto Rico}}, an unincorporated U.S. territory with a large population outside the 50 standard states (both contiguous and otherwise); and the U.S. as a whole.

The most reported animals are Common Eastern Bumble Bee and White-tailed Deer, with 7 states each, while the most reported plant is Common Milkweed, with 6 states. Of the 26 different animal species mentioned, 5 are mammals, 4 are birds, 12 are reptiles, and 5 are insects. This is part of what makes the results for "US as a whole" surprising: they only top the list in one or two states, yet become the most reported when adding up the numbers nationwide.

iNaturalist community members have [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/today-s-xkcd-comic-is-about-inaturalist/67916 noted] that several species have made it on the list due to a few prolific contributors contributing large numbers of observations of the same species.

===Reference table===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"| State
! colspan="2" | Most observed...
|-
!Animal
!Plant
|-
!<span id="AL">AL</span>
|{{w|Alabama}}
|{{w|Gulf fritillary}}
|{{w|Liquidambar styraciflua|American Sweetgum}}
Also in: '''[[#GA|GA]]''', '''[[#SC|SC]]'''
|-
!<span id="AK">AK</span>
|{{w|Alaska}}
|{{w|Moose}}
|{{w|Chamaenerion angustifolium|Fireweed}}
|-
!<span id="AZ">AZ</span>
|{{w|Arizona}}
|{{w|Urosaurus ornatus|Ornate Tree Lizard}}
''(Also the State Animal of Nebraska)''
|{{w|Saguaro}}
|-
!<span id="AR">AR</span>
|{{w|Arkansas}}
|{{w|Three-toed box turtle}}
''(Official Reptile of Missouri)''
|{{w|Ligustrum sinense|Chinese Privet}}
'''Naturalized'''
|-
!<span id="CA">CA</span>
|{{w|California}}
|{{w|Western fence lizard}}
|{{w|Eschscholzia californica|California Poppy}}
|-
!<span id="CO">CO</span>
|{{w|Colorado}}
|{{w|Mule deer}}
Also in: '''[[#NM|NM]]''', '''[[#OR|OR]]''', '''[[#UT|UT]]'''
|{{w|Verbascum thapsus|Great Mullein}}
'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="CT">CT</span>
|{{w|Connecticut}}
|{{w|Bombus impatiens|Common Eastern Bumble Bee}}
Also in: '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|{{w|Chimaphila maculata|Striped Wintergreen}}
|-
!<span id="DE">DE</span>
|{{w|Delaware}}
|{{w|Anaxyrus fowleri|Fowler's Toad}}
|{{w|Phytolacca americana|American Pokeweed}}
|-
!<span id="FL">FL</span>
|{{w|Florida}}
|{{w|Brown Anole}}
'''Invasive'''
|{{w|Bidens alba|White Beggar-ticks}}
|-
!<span id="GA">GA</span>
|{{w|Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia}}
|{{w|Anolis carolinensis|Green Anole}}
Also in: '''[[#LA|LA]]'''
|American Sweetgum
Also in: '''[[#AL|AL]]''', '''[[#SC|SC]]'''
|-
!<span id="HI">HI</span>
|{{w|Hawaii}}
|{{w|Green sea turtle}}
|{{w|Metrosideros polymorpha|ʻŌhiʻa Lehua}}
'''Endangered'''
|-
!<span id="ID">ID</span>
|{{w|Idaho}}
|{{w|Mallard}}
Also in: '''[[#WA|WA]]''', '''[[#**|Whole US]]'''
|{{w|Artemisia tridentata|Big Sagebrush}}
|-
!<span id="IL">IL</span>
|{{w|Illinois}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|{{w|Asclepias syriaca|Common Milkweed}}
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|-
!<span id="IN">IN</span>
|{{w|Indiana}}
|{{w|American robin}}
Also in: '''[[#NE|NE]]''', '''[[#TN|TN]]'''
|{{w|Lonicera maackii|Amur Honeysuckle}}
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#KS|KS]]''', '''[[#KY|KY]]''', '''[[#MO|MO]]

'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="IA">IA</span>
|{{w|Iowa}}
|{{w|White-tailed deer}}
Also in: '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|Common Milkweed
Also in: '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|-
!<span id="KS">KS</span>
|{{w|Kansas}}
|{{w|Ornate box turtle}}
|Amur Honeysuckle
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#KS|KS]]''', '''[[#MO|MO]]

'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="KY">KY</span>
|{{w|Kentucky}}
|{{w|Common box turtle}}
'''Vulnerable'''
|Amur Honeysuckle
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#KS|KS]]''', '''[[#MO|MO]]

'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="LA">LA</span>
|{{w|Louisiana}}
|Green Anole
Also in: '''[[#GA|GA]]'''
|{{w|Taxodium distichum|Bald Cypress}}
|-
!<span id="ME">ME</span>
|{{w|Maine}}
|{{w|American herring gull}}
Also in: '''[[#RI|RI]]'''
|{{w|Cornus canadensis|Canadian Bunchberry}}
|-
!<span id="MD">MD</span>
|{{w|Maryland}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|{{w|Pinus strobus|Eastern White Pine}}
Also in: '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]'''
|-
!<span id="MA">MA</span>
|{{w|Massachusetts}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|Eastern White Pine
Also in: '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]'''
|-
!<span id="MI">MI</span>
|{{w|Michigan}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|Common Milkweed
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|-
!<span id="MN">MN</span>
|{{w|Minnesota}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|Common Milkweed
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|-
!<span id="MS">MS</span>
|{{w|Mississippi}}
|{{w|Northern cardinal}}
Also in: '''[[#SC|SC]]''', '''[[#TX|TX]]'''
|{{w|Sarracenia alata|Pale Pitcher Plant}}
|-
!<span id="MO">MO</span>
|{{w|Missouri}}
|{{w|Bombus griseocollis|Brown-belted Bumble Bee}}
|Amur Honeysuckle
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#KS|KS]]''', '''[[#KY|KY]]

'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="MT">MT</span>
|{{w|Montana}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|{{w|Achillea millefolium|Common Yarrow}}
|-
!<span id="NE">NE</span>
|{{w|Nebraska}}
|American Robin
Also in: '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#TN|TN]]'''
|Common Milkweed
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|-
!<span id="NV">NV</span>
|{{w|Nevada}}
|{{w|Common side-blotched lizard}}
|{{w|Larrea tridentata|Creosote Bush}}
Also in: '''[[#NM|NM]]'''
|-
!<span id="NH">NH</span>
|{{w|New Hampshire}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|Eastern White Pine
Also in: '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]'''
|-
!<span id="NJ">NJ</span>
|{{w|New Jersey}}
|{{w|Spotted lanternfly}}
'''Invasive'''
|{{w|Artemisia vulgaris|Common Mugwort}}
'''Invasive native'''
|-
!<span id="NM">NM</span>
|{{w|New Mexico}}
|Mule Deer
Also in: '''[[#CO|CO]]''', '''[[#OR|OR]]''', '''[[#UT|UT]]'''
|Creosote Bush
Also in: '''[[#NV|NV]]'''
|-
!<span id="NY">NY</span>
|{{w|New York (state)|New York}}
|{{w|Eastern gray squirrel}}
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#NC|NC]]

''(Invasive to Europe)''
|{{w|Ageratina altissima|White Snakeroot}}
|-
!<span id="NC">NC</span>
|{{w|North Carolina}}
|Eastern Gray Squirrel
Also in: '''[[#DC|DC]]''', '''[[#NY|NY]]'''
|{{w|Polystichum acrostichoides|Christmas Fern}}
Also in: '''[[#TN|TN]]'''
|-
!<span id="ND">ND</span>
|{{w|North Dakota}}
|{{w|American bison}}
Also in: '''[[#SD|SD]]''', '''[[#WY|WY]]'''
|{{w|Rosa arkansana|Prairie}}&nbsp;{{w|Rosa blanda|Rose}}
''(Could be one of several {{w|Prairie Rose}} species.)''<!-- I linked the initial name to the two equally most associated with ND... if anyone finds that iNaturalist distinguishes better than that, they can simplify it accordingly -->
|-
!<span id="OH">OH</span>
|{{w|Ohio}}
|{{w|Erythemis simplicicollis|Eastern Pondhawk}}
|{{w|Claytonia virginica|Virginia Springbeauty}}
|-
!<span id="OK">OK</span>
|{{w|Oklahoma}}
|{{w|Pond slider}}
|{{w|Juniperus virginiana|Eastern Redcedar}}
|-
!<span id="OR">OR</span>
|{{w|Oregon}}
|Mule Deer
Also in: '''[[#CO|CO]]''', '''[[#NM|NM]]''', '''[[#UT|UT]]'''
|{{w|Pinus ponderosa|Western Ponderosa Pine}}
''("Western" yellow-pine, a.k.a. "Ponderosa" pine?)''<!-- I don't know what iNaturalist says about it, just making assumptions from amongst the subset of names Wikipedia says it has. -->
|-
!<span id="PA">PA</span>
|{{w|Pennsylvania}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|{{w|Alliaria petiolata|Garlic Mustard}}
'''Invasive'''
|-
!<span id="RI">RI</span>
|{{w|Rhode Island}}
|American Herring Gull
Also in: '''[[#ME|ME]]'''
|{{w|Rosa rugosa|Rugosa Rose}}
|-
!<span id="SC">SC</span>
|{{w|South Carolina}}
|Northern Cardinal
Also in: '''[[#MS|MS]]''', '''[[#TX|TX]]'''
|American Sweetgum
Also in: '''[[#AL|AL]]''', '''[[#GA|GA]]'''
|-
!<span id="SD">SD</span>
|{{w|South Dakota}}
|American Bison
Also in: '''[[#ND|ND]]''', '''[[#WY|WY]]'''
|{{w|Verbena stricta|Hoary Vervain}}
|-
!<span id="TN">TN</span>
|{{w|Tennessee}}
|American Robin
Also in: '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]'''
|Christmas Fern
Also in: '''[[#NC|NC]]'''
|-
!<span id="TX">TX</span>
|{{w|Texas}}
|Northern Cardinal
Also in: '''[[#MS|MS]]''', '''[[#SC|SC]]'''
|{{w|Oenothera speciosa|Pinkladies}}
|-
!<span id="UT">UT</span>
|{{w|Utah}}
|Mule Deer
Also in: '''[[#CO|CO]]''', '''[[#NM|NM]]''', '''[[#OR|OR]]'''
|{{w|Juniperus osteosperma|Utah Juniper}}
|-
!<span id="VT">VT</span>
|{{w|Vermont}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#WI|WI]]'''
|Eastern White Pine
Also in: '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]'''
|-
!<span id="VA">VA</span>
|{{w|Virginia}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#WV|WV]]'''
|{{w|Toxicodendron radicans|Eastern Poison Ivy}}
Also in: '''[[#**|Whole US]]'''
|-
!<span id="WA">WA</span>
|{{w|Washington (state)|Washington}}
|Mallard
Also in: '''[[#ID|ID]]''', '''[[#**|Whole US]]'''
|{{w|Polystichum munitum|Western Sword Fern}}
|-
!<span id="WV">WV</span>
|{{w|West Virginia}}
|White-tailed Deer
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MT|MT]]''', '''[[#NH|NH]]''', '''[[#PA|PA]]''', '''[[#VA|VA]]'''
|{{w|Rhododendron maximum|Great Rhododendron}}
|-
!<span id="WI">WI</span>
|{{w|Wisconsin}}
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Also in: '''[[#CT|CT]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MA|MA]]''', '''[[#MD|MD]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#VT|VT]]'''
|Common Milkweed
Also in: '''[[#IA|IA]]''', '''[[#IL|IL]]''', '''[[#MI|MI]]''', '''[[#MN|MN]]''', '''[[#NE|NE]]'''
|-
!<span id="WY">WY</span>
|{{w|Wyoming}}
|American Bison
Also in: '''[[#ND|ND]]''', '''[[#SD|SD]]'''
|{{w|Geranium viscosissimum|Sticky Geranium}}<!-- Left assuming that it's Wikipedia's "Sticky *Purple* Geranium", after a brief tour of all possible Geranium subspecie that it could be. -->
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
!<span id="DC">DC</span>
|{{w|Washington, D.C.|Washington DC<!-- only due to minor punctuation diffs -->}} ''(title text)''
|Eastern gray squirrel
Also in: '''[[#NC|NC]]''', '''[[#NY|NY]]'''
|Amur Honeysuckle
Also in: '''[[#IN|IN]]''', '''[[#KS|KS]]''', '''[[#KY|KY]]''', '''[[#MO|MO]]

'''Invasive'''
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
!<span id="PR">PR</span>
|{{w|Puerto Rico}} ''(title text)''
|{{w|Anolis cristatellus|Crested anole}}
|{{w|Coccoloba uvifera|Sea grape}}
|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"
!data-sort-value="**"|<span id="**"></span>
|{{w|United States|'''US as a whole'''}} ''(title text)''
|Mallard
Also in: '''[[#WA|WA]]''', '''[[#ID|ID]]'''
|Eastern poison ivy
Also in: '''[[#VA|VA]]'''
|}

==Transcript==
:[The comic shows a map of the United States with state borders (including Hawaii and Alaska inset in the lower left) and two-letter state codes for each state. The map includes the Northwest Angle, which is not typically shown on maps of this scale.]
:[Above the map]: The Most-Observed Animal and Plant in Each State on iNaturalist
:[Below that, in parentheses]: Not the most common species in the state, just the one people have reported the most times.
:[Each state has text of the format "Animal" on top and "Plant" below. For RI, VT, NH, MA, CT, NJ, DE, and MD, the text is outside the state border with a line connecting them.]

:[In alphabetical order, the states have the following Animal/Plant text]:

:Alabama: Gulf Fritillary; American Sweetgum<br>
:Alaska: Moose; Fireweed<br>
:Arizona: Ornate Tree Lizard; Saguaro<br>
:Arkansas: Three-toed Box Turtle; Chinese Privet<br>
:California: Western Fence Lizard; California Poppy<br>
:Colorado: Mule Deer; Great Mullein<br>
:Connecticut: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Striped Wintergreen<br>
:Delaware: Fowler's Toad; American Pokeweed<br>
:Florida: Brown Anole; White Beggar-ticks<br>
:Georgia: Green Anole; American Sweetgum<br>
:Hawaii: Green Sea Turtle; ʻŌhiʻa Lehua<br>
:Idaho: Mallard; Big Sagebrush<br>
:Illinois: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed<br>
:Indiana: American Robin; Amur Honeysuckle<br>
:Iowa: White-tailed Deer; Common Milkweed<br>
:Kansas: Ornate Box Turtle; Amur Honeysuckle<br>
:Kentucky: Common Box Turtle; Amur Honeysuckle<br>
:Louisiana: Green Anole; Bald Cypress<br>
:Maine: American Herring Gull; Canadian Bunchberry<br>
:Maryland: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine<br>
:Massachusetts: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine<br>
:Michigan: White-tailed Deer; Common Milkweed<br>
:Minnesota: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed<br>
:Mississippi: Northern Cardinal; Pale Pitcher Plant<br>
:Missouri: Brown-belted Bumble Bee; Amur Honeysuckle<br>
:Montana: White-tailed Deer; Common Yarrow<br>
:Nebraska: American Robin; Common Milkweed<br>
:Nevada: Common Side-blotched Lizard; Creosote Bush<br>
:New Hampshire: White-tailed Deer; Eastern White Pine<br>
:New Jersey: Spotted Lanternfly; Common Mugwort<br>
:New Mexico: Mule Deer; Creosote Bush<br>
:New York: Eastern Gray Squirrel; White Snakeroot<br>
:North Carolina: Eastern Gray Squirrel; Christmas Fern<br>
:North Dakota: American Bison; Prairie Rose<br>
:Ohio: Eastern Pondhawk; Virginia Springbeauty<br>
:Oklahoma: Pond Slider; Eastern Redcedar<br>
:Oregon: Mule Deer; Western Ponderosa Pine<br>
:Pennsylvania: White-tailed Deer; Garlic Mustard<br>
:Rhode Island: American Herring Gull; Rugosa Rose<br>
:South Carolina: Northern Cardinal; American Sweetgum<br>
:South Dakota: American Bison; Hoary Vervain<br>
:Tennessee: American Robin; Christmas Fern<br>
:Texas: Northern Cardinal; Pinkladies<br>
:Utah: Mule Deer; Utah Juniper<br>
:Vermont: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine<br>
:Virginia: White-tailed Deer; Eastern Poison Ivy<br>
:Washington: Mallard; Western Sword Fern<br>
:West Virginia: White-tailed Deer; Great Rhododendron<br>
:Wisconsin: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed<br>
:Wyoming: American Bison; Sticky Geranium<br>

==Trivia==
*In the [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/archive/c/c9/20250723151925%21inaturalist_animals_and_plants_2x.png original version of the comic], the postal codes for Iowa, Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii were missing from the map. They were later added.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

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