Difference between revisions of "3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants"

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Jump to: navigation, search
(→‎Explanation: DOn't see why it'd need a header or that column)
(→‎Explanation: Added a proper table (defered from last night, due to outage mid-edit) based upon Talk suggestion. Did brief check of invasiveness (planned more "native"nesses, etc), etc, but room for editing. Have "<hr>" as "||"(s) for extra cols?)
Line 10: Line 10:
  
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
−
{{incomplete|The table is incomplete.}}
 
−
 
 
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.
 
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.
  
Line 20: Line 18:
 
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.
 
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"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
−
! Species
+
!State
−
! States reported in
+
!Animal
−
! class="unsortable"| Notes
+
!Plant
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="AL"|{{w|Alabama            |'''Al'''abama}}
 +
|{{w|Gulf fritillary}}
 +
|{{w|Liquidambar styraciflua|American Sweetgum}}<hr/>See also: GA, SC
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="AK"|{{w|Alaska              |'''A'''las'''k'''a}}
 +
|{{w|Moose}}
 +
|{{w|Chamaenerion angustifolium|Fireweed}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="AZ"|{{w|Arizona            |'''A'''ri'''z'''ona}}
 +
|{{w|Urosaurus ornatus|Ornate Tree Lizard}}<hr/>''(Also the State Animal of Nebraska)''
 +
|{{w|Saguaro}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="AR"|{{w|Arkansas            |'''Ar'''kansas}}
 +
|{{w|Three-toed box turtle}}<hr/>''(Official Reptile of Missouri)''
 +
|{{w|Ligustrum sinense|Chinese Privet}}<hr/>'''Naturalized'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="CA"|{{w|California          |'''Ca'''lifornia}}
 +
|{{w|Western fence lizard}}
 +
|{{w|Eschscholzia californica|California Poppy}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="CO"|{{w|Colorado            |'''Co'''lorado}}
 +
|{{w|Mule deer}}<hr/>See also: NM, OR, UT
 +
|{{w|Verbascum thapsus|Great Mullein}}<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="CT"|{{w|Connecticut        |'''C'''onnecticu'''t'''}}
 +
|{{w|Bombus impatiens|Common Eastern Bumble Bee}}<hr/>See also: IL, MA, MD, MN, VT, WI
 +
|{{w|Chimaphila maculata|Striped Wintergreen}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="DE"|{{w|Delaware            |'''De'''laware}}
 +
|{{w|Anaxyrus fowleri|Fowler's Toad}}
 +
|{{w|Phytolacca americana|American Pokeweed}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="FL"|{{w|Florida            |'''Fl'''orida}}
 +
|{{w|Brown Anole}}<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|{{w|Bidens alba|White Beggar-ticks}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="GA"|{{w|Georgia (U.S. state)|'''G'''eorgi'''a'''}}
 +
|{{w|Anolis carolinensis|Green Anole}}<hr/>See also: LA
 +
|American Sweetgum<hr/>See also: AL, SC
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="HI"|{{w|Hawaii              |'''H'''awai'''i'''}}
 +
|{{w|Green sea turtle}}
 +
|{{w|Metrosideros polymorpha|ʻŌhiʻa Lehua}}<hr/>'''Endangered'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="ID"|{{w|Idaho              |'''Id'''aho}}
 +
|{{w|Mallard}}<hr/>See also: DC, Whole US
 +
|{{w|Artemisia tridentata|Big Sagebrush}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="IL"|{{w|Illinois            |'''Il'''linois}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, MA, MD, MN, VT, WI
 +
|{{w|Asclepias syriaca|Common Milkweed}}<hr/>See also: IA, MI, MN, NE, WI
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="IN"|{{w|Indiana            |'''In'''diana}}
 +
|{{w|American robin}}<hr/>See also: NE, TN
 +
|{{w|Lonicera maackii|Amur Honeysuckle}}<hr/>See also: DC, KS, KY, MO<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="IA"|{{w|Iowa                |'''I'''ow'''a'''}}
 +
|{{w|White-tailed deer}}<hr/>See also: MI, MT, NH, PA, VA, WV
 +
|Common Milkweed<hr/>See also: IL, MI, MN, NE, WI
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="KS"|{{w|Kansas              |'''K'''ansa'''s'''}}
 +
|{{w|Ornate box turtle}}
 +
|Amur Honeysuckle<hr/>See also: DC, IN, KY, MO<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="KY"|{{w|Kentucky            |'''K'''entuck'''y'''}}
 +
|{{w|Common box turtle}}<hr/>'''Vulnerable'''
 +
|Amur Honeysuckle<hr/>See also: DC, IN, KS, MO<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="LA"|{{w|Louisiana          |'''L'''ouisian'''a'''}}
 +
|Green Anole<hr/>See also: GA
 +
|{{w|Taxodium distichum|Bald Cypress}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="ME"|{{w|Maine              |'''M'''ain'''e'''}}
 +
|{{w|American herring gull}}<hr/>See also: RI
 +
|{{w|Cornus canadensis|Canadian Bunchberry}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MD"|{{w|Maryland            |'''M'''arylan'''d'''}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, IL, MA, MN, VT, WI
 +
|{{w|Pinus strobus|Eastern White Pine}}<hr/>See also: MA, NH, VT
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MA"|{{w|Massachusetts      |'''Ma'''ssachusetts}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, IL, MD, MN, VT, WI
 +
|Eastern White Pine<hr/>See also: MD, NH, VT
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MI"|{{w|Michigan            |'''Mi'''chigan}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MT, NH, PA, VA, WV
 +
|Common Milkweed<hr/>See also: IA, IL, MN, NE, WI
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MN"|{{w|Minnesota          |'''M'''i'''n'''nesota}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, VT, WI
 +
|Common Milkweed<hr/>See also: IA, IL, MI, NE, WI
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MS"|{{w|Mississippi        |'''Mi'''ssissippi}}
 +
|{{w|Northern cardinal}}<hr/>See also: SC, TX
 +
|{{w|Sarracenia alata|Pale Pitcher Plant}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MO"|{{w|Missouri            |'''M'''iss'''o'''uri}}
 +
|{{w|Bombus griseocollis|Brown-belted Bumble Bee}}
 +
|Amur Honeysuckle<hr/>See also: DC, IN, KS, KY<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="MT"|{{w|Montana            |'''M'''on'''t'''ana}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MI, NH, PA, VA, WV
 +
|{{w|Achillea millefolium|Common Yarrow}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NE"|{{w|Nebraska            |'''Ne'''braska}}
 +
|American Robin<hr/>See also: IN, TN
 +
|Common Milkweed<hr/>See also: IA, IL, MI, MN, WI
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NV"|{{w|Nevada              |'''N'''e'''v'''ada}}
 +
|{{w|Common side-blotched lizard}}
 +
|{{w|Larrea tridentata|Creosote Bush}}<hr/>See also: NM
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NH"|{{w|New Hampshire      |'''N'''ew '''H'''ampshire}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MI, MT, PA, VA, WV
 +
|Eastern White Pine<hr/>See also: MA, MD, VT
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NJ"|{{w|New Jersey          |'''N'''ew '''J'''ersey}}
 +
|{{w|Spotted lanternfly}}<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|{{w|Artemisia vulgaris|Common Mugwort}}<hr/>'''Invasive native'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NM"|{{w|New Mexico          |'''N'''ew '''M'''exico}}
 +
|Mule Deer<hr/>See also: CO, OR, UT
 +
|Creosote Bush<hr/>See also: NV
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NY"|{{w|New York (state)    |'''N'''ew '''Y'''ork}}
 +
|{{w|Eastern gray squirrel}}<hr/>See also: DC, NC<hr/>''(Invasive to Europe)''
 +
|{{w|Ageratina altissima|White Snakeroot}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="NC"|{{w|North Carolina      |'''N'''orth '''C'''arolina}}
 +
|Eastern Gray Squirrel<hr/>See also: DC, NY
 +
|{{w|Polystichum acrostichoides|Christmas Fern}}<hr/>See also: TN
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="ND"|{{w|North Dakota        |'''N'''orth '''D'''akota}}
 +
|{{w|American bison}}<hr/>See also: SD, WY
 +
|{{w|Rosa arkansana|Prairie}}&nbsp;{{w|Rosa blanda|Rose}}<hr/>''(Could 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 -->
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="OH"|{{w|Ohio                |'''Oh'''io}}
 +
|{{w|Erythemis simplicicollis|Eastern Pondhawk}}
 +
|{{w|Claytonia virginica|Virginia Springbeauty}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="OK"|{{w|Oklahoma            |'''Ok'''lahoma}}
 +
|{{w|Pond slider}}
 +
|{{w|Juniperus virginiana|Eastern Redcedar}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="OR"|{{w|Oregon              |'''Or'''egon}}
 +
|Mule Deer<hr/>See also: CO, NM, UT
 +
|{{w|Pinus ponderosa|Western Ponderosa Pine}}<hr/>''(‘’’Western’’’ yellow-pine, a.k.a. ‘’’Ponderosa’’’ pine?)''<!-- I don't know what iNaturalist says about it, just making assumptions from amonfst the subset of names Wikipedia says it has. -->
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="PA"|{{w|Pennsylvania        |'''P'''ennsylvani'''a'''}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, VA, WV
 +
|{{w|Alliaria petiolata|Garlic Mustard}}<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="RI"|{{w|Rhode Island        |'''R'''hode '''I'''sland}}
 +
|American Herring Gull<hr/>See also: ME
 +
|{{w|Rosa rugosa|Rugosa Rose}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="SC"|{{w|South Carolina      |'''S'''outh '''C'''arolina}}
 +
|Northern Cardinal<hr/>See also: MS, TX
 +
|American Sweetgum<hr/>See also: AL, GA
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="SD"|{{w|South Dakota        |'''S'''outh '''D'''akota}}
 +
|American Bison<hr/>See also: ND, WY
 +
|{{w|Verbena stricta|Hoary Vervain}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="TN"|{{w|Tennessee          |'''Te'''n'''nessee}}
 +
|American Robin<hr/>See also: IN, NE
 +
|Christmas Fern<hr/>See also: NC
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="TX"|{{w|Texas              |'''T'''e'''x'''as}}
 +
|Northern Cardinal<hr/>See also: MS, SC
 +
|{{w|Oenothera speciosa|Pinkladies}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="UT"|{{w|Utah                |'''Ut'''ah}}
 +
|Mule Deer<hr/>See also: CO, NM, OR
 +
|{{w|Juniperus osteosperma|Utah Juniper}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="VT"|{{w|Vermont            |'''V'''ermon'''t'''}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, MN, WI
 +
|Eastern White Pine<hr/>See also: MA, MD, NH
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="VA"|{{w|Virginia            |'''V'''irgini'''a'''}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, PA, WV
 +
|{{w|Toxicodendron radicans|Eastern Poison Ivy}}<hr/>See also: Whole US
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="WA"|{{w|Washington (state)  |'''Wa'''shington}}
 +
|Mallard<hr/>See also: ID, Whole US
 +
|{{w|Polystichum munitum|Western Sword Fern}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="WV"|{{w|West Virginia      |'''W'''est '''V'''irginia}}
 +
|White-tailed Deer<hr/>See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, PA, VA
 +
|{{w|Rhododendron maximum|Great Rhododendron}}
 +
|-
 +
|data-sort-value="WI"|{{w|Wisconsin          |'''Wi'''sconsin}}
 +
|Common Eastern Bumble Bee<hr/>See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, MN, VT
 +
|Common Milkweed<hr/>See also: IA, IL, MI, MN, NE
 
|-
 
|-
−
|
+
|data-sort-value="WY"|{{w|Wyoming            |'''Wy'''oming}}
−
|
+
|American Bison<hr/>See also: ND, 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="#cccccc"
 +
|data-sort-value="DC"|{{w|Washington, D.C.    |Washington '''DC'''}} ''(title text)''
 +
|Eastern gray squirrel<hr/>See also: NC, NY
 +
|Amur Honeysuckle<hr/>See also: IN, KS, KY, MO<hr/>'''Invasive'''
 +
|- bgcolor="#cccccc"
 +
|data-sort-value="PR"|{{w|Puerto Rico        |'''P'''uerto '''R'''ico}} ''(title text)''
 +
|{{w|Anolis cristatellus|Crested anole}}
 +
|{{w|Coccoloba uvifera|Sea grape}}
 +
|- bgcolor="#808080"
 +
|data-sort-value="**"|{{w|United States      |'''US as a whole'''}} ''(title text)''
 +
|Mallard<hr/>See also: DC, ID
 +
|Eastern poison ivy<hr/>See also: VA
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 07:30, 26 July 2025

iNaturalist Animals and Plants
Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.
Title text: 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 citizen science social network 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 District of Columbia, too small to list such information on the district itself and in an awkward location for a connector; 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 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

    State Animal Plant
    Alabama Gulf fritillary American Sweetgum
    See also: GA, SC
    Alaska Moose Fireweed
    Arizona Ornate Tree Lizard
    (Also the State Animal of Nebraska)     		Saguaro
    Arkansas Three-toed box turtle
    (Official Reptile of Missouri)     		Chinese Privet
    Naturalized
    California Western fence lizard California Poppy
    Colorado Mule deer
    See also: NM, OR, UT     		Great Mullein
    Invasive
    Connecticut Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: IL, MA, MD, MN, VT, WI     		Striped Wintergreen
    Delaware Fowler's Toad American Pokeweed
    Florida Brown Anole
    Invasive     		White Beggar-ticks
    Georgia Green Anole
    See also: LA     		American Sweetgum
    See also: AL, SC
    Hawaii Green sea turtle ʻŌhiʻa Lehua
    Endangered
    Idaho Mallard
    See also: DC, Whole US     		Big Sagebrush
    Illinois Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, MA, MD, MN, VT, WI     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IA, MI, MN, NE, WI
    Indiana American robin
    See also: NE, TN     		Amur Honeysuckle
    See also: DC, KS, KY, MO
    Invasive
    Iowa White-tailed deer
    See also: MI, MT, NH, PA, VA, WV     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IL, MI, MN, NE, WI
    Kansas Ornate box turtle Amur Honeysuckle
    See also: DC, IN, KY, MO
    Invasive
    Kentucky Common box turtle
    Vulnerable     		Amur Honeysuckle
    See also: DC, IN, KS, MO
    Invasive
    Louisiana Green Anole
    See also: GA     		Bald Cypress
    Maine American herring gull
    See also: RI     		Canadian Bunchberry
    Maryland Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, IL, MA, MN, VT, WI     		Eastern White Pine
    See also: MA, NH, VT
    Massachusetts Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, IL, MD, MN, VT, WI     		Eastern White Pine
    See also: MD, NH, VT
    Michigan White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MT, NH, PA, VA, WV     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IA, IL, MN, NE, WI
    Minnesota Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, VT, WI     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IA, IL, MI, NE, WI
    Mississippi Northern cardinal
    See also: SC, TX     		Pale Pitcher Plant
    Missouri Brown-belted Bumble Bee Amur Honeysuckle
    See also: DC, IN, KS, KY
    Invasive
    Montana White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MI, NH, PA, VA, WV     		Common Yarrow
    Nebraska American Robin
    See also: IN, TN     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IA, IL, MI, MN, WI
    Nevada Common side-blotched lizard Creosote Bush
    See also: NM
    New Hampshire White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MI, MT, PA, VA, WV     		Eastern White Pine
    See also: MA, MD, VT
    New Jersey Spotted lanternfly
    Invasive     		Common Mugwort
    Invasive native
    New Mexico Mule Deer
    See also: CO, OR, UT     		Creosote Bush
    See also: NV
    New York Eastern gray squirrel
    See also: DC, NC
    (Invasive to Europe)     		White Snakeroot
    North Carolina Eastern Gray Squirrel
    See also: DC, NY     		Christmas Fern
    See also: TN
    North Dakota American bison
    See also: SD, WY     		Prairie Rose
    (Could several Prairie Rose species.)
    Ohio Eastern Pondhawk Virginia Springbeauty
    Oklahoma Pond slider Eastern Redcedar
    Oregon Mule Deer
    See also: CO, NM, UT     		Western Ponderosa Pine
    (‘’’Western’’’ yellow-pine, a.k.a. ‘’’Ponderosa’’’ pine?)
    Pennsylvania White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, VA, WV     		Garlic Mustard
    Invasive
    Rhode Island American Herring Gull
    See also: ME     		Rugosa Rose
    South Carolina Northern Cardinal
    See also: MS, TX     		American Sweetgum
    See also: AL, GA
    South Dakota American Bison
    See also: ND, WY     		Hoary Vervain
    Tennessee American Robin
    See also: IN, NE     		Christmas Fern
    See also: NC
    Texas Northern Cardinal
    See also: MS, SC     		Pinkladies
    Utah Mule Deer
    See also: CO, NM, OR     		Utah Juniper
    Vermont Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, MN, WI     		Eastern White Pine
    See also: MA, MD, NH
    Virginia White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, PA, WV     		Eastern Poison Ivy
    See also: Whole US
    Washington Mallard
    See also: ID, Whole US     		Western Sword Fern
    West Virginia White-tailed Deer
    See also: IA, MI, MT, NH, PA, VA     		Great Rhododendron
    Wisconsin Common Eastern Bumble Bee
    See also: CT, IL, MA, MD, MN, VT     		Common Milkweed
    See also: IA, IL, MI, MN, NE
    Wyoming American Bison
    See also: ND, SD     		Sticky Geranium
    Washington DC (title text) Eastern gray squirrel
    See also: NC, NY     		Amur Honeysuckle
    See also: IN, KS, KY, MO
    Invasive
    Puerto Rico (title text) Crested anole Sea grape
    US as a whole (title text) Mallard
    See also: DC, ID     		Eastern poison ivy
    See also: VA

    Transcript

    Ambox warning green construction.svg This is one of 30 incomplete transcripts.
    Please help by editing it!
    [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
    Alaska: Moose; Fireweed
    Arizona: Ornate Tree Lizard; Saguaro
    Arkansas: Three-toed Box Turtle; Chinese Privet
    California: Western Fence Lizard; California Poppy
    Colorado: Mule Deer; Great Mullein
    Connecticut: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Striped Wintergreen
    Delaware: Fowler's Toad; American Pokeweed
    Florida: Brown Anole; White Beggar-ticks
    Georgia: Green Anole; American Sweetgum
    Hawaii: Green Sea Turtle; ʻŌhiʻa Lehua
    Idaho: Mallard; Big Sagebrush
    Illinois: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed
    Indiana: American Robin; Amur Honeysuckle
    Iowa: White-tailed Deer; Common Milkweed
    Kansas: Ornate Box Turtle; Amur Honeysuckle
    Kentucky: Common Box Turtle; Amur Honeysuckle
    Louisiana: Green Anole; Bald Cypress
    Maine: American Herring Gull; Canadian Bunchberry
    Maryland: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine
    Massachusetts: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine
    Michigan: White-tailed Deer; Common Milkweed
    Minnesota: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed
    Mississippi: Northern Cardinal; Pale Pitcher Plant
    Missouri: Brown-belted Bumble Bee; Amur Honeysuckle
    Montana: White-tailed Deer; Common Yarrow
    Nebraska: American Robin; Common Milkweed
    Nevada: Common Side-blotched Lizard; Creosote Bush
    New Hampshire: White-tailed Deer; Eastern White Pine
    New Jersey: Spotted Lanternfly; Common Mugwort
    New Mexico: Mule Deer; Creosote Bush
    New York: Eastern Gray Squirrel; White Snakeroot
    North Carolina: Eastern Gray Squirrel; Christmas Fern
    North Dakota: American Bison; Prairie Rose
    Ohio: Eastern Pondhawk; Virginia Springbeauty
    Oklahoma: Pond Slider; Eastern Redcedar
    Oregon: Mule Deer; Western Ponderosa Pine
    Pennsylvania: White-tailed Deer; Garlic Mustard
    Rhode Island: American Herring Gull; Rugosa Rose
    South Carolina: Northern Cardinal; American Sweetgum
    South Dakota: American Bison; Hoary Vervain
    Tennessee: American Robin; Christmas Fern
    Texas: Northern Cardinal; Pinkladies
    Utah: Mule Deer; Utah Juniper
    Vermont: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Eastern White Pine
    Virginia: White-tailed Deer; Eastern Poison Ivy
    Washington: Mallard; Western Sword Fern
    West Virginia: White-tailed Deer; Great Rhododendron
    Wisconsin: Common Eastern Bumble Bee; Common Milkweed
    Wyoming: American Bison; Sticky Geranium

    Trivia

    In the original version of the comic, the postal codes for Iowa, Florida, Alaska, and Hawaii were missing from the map. They were later added.


    comment.png  Add comment      new topic.png  Create topic (use sparingly)     refresh discuss.png  Refresh 

    Discussion

    we probably need to add something about how bacteria are more common but not observable to the average person 72.203.83.113 16:36, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    Why? Bacteria are not animals or plants. 2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C 17:45, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    The lack of fungi is perhaps more noteworthy. --86.13.226.126 16:44, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    Why? Should they have appeared as significantly noted animals? 82.132.244.2 17:13, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    >"bacteria ....not observable to the average person" They is. Some special folks have microscopes. Lots of folks have aquaria or pond-scum and some of that is bacterial. My wetland (and brown well-water) is full of iron-bacteria. And then there are tree-galls (big cancer-like lumps) some of which are due to bacteria. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=67333 -- --PRR (talk) 17:30, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

    Why are some states missing their postal code? IA, FL, AK, HI don't have them. Nolanmeyer (talk) 18:27, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    Probably human error. 2001:4C4E:1C00:BF00:658B:2EF0:F9ED:69A 12:27, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    Added a trivia section! --FaviFake (talk) 13:52, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

    I am curious which animal and which plant are mentioned for the most states? Rtanenbaum (talk) 18:43, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    Common Eastern Bumble Bee with 7 states [CT, IL, MD, MA, MN, VT, WI] and Common Milkweed with 6 states [IL, IA, MI, MN, NE, WI]Nolanmeyer (talk) 18:53, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    White-tailed Deer also has 7 states [IO, MI, MT, NH, PA, VI, WV] Rtanenbaum (talk) 19:16, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    You're right! My python script missed Iowa because of a capitalization error in the transcription. Nolanmeyer (talk) 19:32, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    Is there a hidden joke in this one that needs explaining, or is it simply an interesting data map? 37.19.197.233

    Looks like just an interesting map. Nothing wrong with that. --81.96.108.67 20:50, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    Wrong. What's wrong with it is that there's no joke. It's not "comic" in any way. 70.16.143.48 (talk) 22:03, 21 July 2025 (UTC) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
    It may have derived from the earlier use of 'comic' implying a joke or humour, but the modern use of 'comic' for the artform does not. For example, Wikipedia refers to it as "a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information", which is exactly what this is. 82.13.184.33 10:41, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    'Wikipedia' is perhaps the literal least reliable source of information on the planet. 70.16.143.48
    [actual citation needed]
    To be precise, if anybody knows (or thinks) that Wikipedia is wrong, they can make changes. Compared with the current tendency to have an AI try to pre-emptively summarise a search-engine result when there's absolutely no way to correct obvious errors, or any more traditional and static online encyclopedia or 'expert' page which may be replete with errors and outdated information that cannot be easily corrected (if at all).
    Not to say that Wikipedia is the most reliable source (always worth a check elsewhere, if it really matters), but it's potentially far more reliable than many of its alternatives. 82.132.246.160 20:36, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
    I'm sure you believe that you're honestly being "precise", but I strongly, strongly urge and implore you to go and attempt to make a change on a wikipedia "article" that you believe is wrong. Seriously, go try it.70.16.143.48
    If your 'correction' is correct, and you're sticking to clear and objective truths, you won't have a problem. If you're prone to conveying controversial opinions, I imagine that you might have a different experience. To not reasonably trust the current "comic" page, for example, or (if you tried to make any) failed to have any of your suggested changes stand, it probably says more about you.
    And if you can't find any more badly written resources elsewhere, even for something pointedly marked as a stub, you're either not looking hard enough or you're in thrall to the wrongheaded information sources concerned for a particular subject. Keep an open mind (but not so open that your brain gets replaced). "Trust but verify" is a reasonable mantra, and Wikipedia helps with the latter more than most places. But somehow this wiki seems to have become the place where this is being discussed (anecdotally), in a way that would rightfully rejected in any actual wiki-type article as being unreferenced. 82.132.244.85 22:28, 24 July 2025 (UTC)
    No, if your "correction" sticks to the sociopolitical agenda of the "editors" in charge, you won't have a problem. The site itself conveys many controversial opinions... but only the ones that align with their echo chamber.70.16.143.48
    I refer you again to the unlikelihood that "what a comic is" even has such biases that you might consider relevent, which is the only reason we're having this conversation. I can't, and won't, tell you that there aren't issues where wikipedia's group consensus is antithetical to your personal opinion, whatever that might be, and vice-versa. But I think you place too much credit to imagine the nebulous 'They' have rendered even the most utterly tangential articles to inaccurately support whatever particular agenda you consider Them wanting to to push. To declare "the literal least reliable source of information on the planet" is laughably wrong. I could point you at North Korean TV, as an easy counterexample, and various other broadcasters (trying here to not accidentally name one that you personally treat as sacrosanct, with no way to guess which perspective you might lean). Listing social media accounts that you might find eternally ludicrous (again, no names, as maybe there'll be some of these you might consider the fountainhead of true knowledge) or other websites (wiki-like and otherwise) could be trivial.
    I'm unclear about whether you are not capable of recognizing hyperbole or if you just want to feel "right". Obviously I'm aware that there are less reliable propaganda machines out there. I will stand by the point that if any of their information is misleading then it should all be taken as such.70.16.143.48
    But my apologies. In the last response I had intended to grant you the right of having the last word, before officially bowing out, and that would have saved this whole repetition and restating of opinion. So you may have your final word, below, instead. I think we remain at an impass that I'm sure nobody else wants me to prolong further. 82.132.247.115 08:27, 25 July 2025 (UTC)
    Virtue signaling. I don't care.70.16.143.48
    How often did Prince Valiant or Spider Man have a joke? Also, so many of the zombine strips on the "funny" pages haven't been humourous for years. 2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C 20:23, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    Re: spider man; multiple times in every single issue. Re: zombine strips; now we're talking short-form graphic novels, not comics.70.16.143.48
    Ah, so the joke is that a lot of these are invasive species, or just from one person over reporting. That makes more sense. It's difficult to tell whether the silly names for animals and trees are real or parody. 212.56.54.115 21:16, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    There isn't a joke. There doesn't need to be a joke. 82.13.184.33 08:23, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
    Yes there does. 70.16.143.48
    Sometimes, it's enough to be just informative. But, as it happens, it's informative with humour, as perhaps being unexpected information (and the fact that the information has an overly narrowly focus in the way it explains it) that can at the very least raise a wry grin.
    For example, look at a species (or group of very similar ones) that shows across a range of states. And, further, consider that it might still be a near-top, just not actually top, in various neighbouring states. You can, in your mind's eye, translate that into a very revealing 'heat map' which I (YMMV) actually find very entertaining. Not as basic as "joke and punchline", but still far from unentertaining, if you let it be. 82.132.246.160 20:36, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
    It might not be wrong to have no joke in this one, but it certainly is unusual for Randall to post such a comic, especially as practically all maps that have ever appeared in xkcd have been obviously wrong in one way or another.88.85.137.11 16:17, 24 July 2025 (UTC)
    Yup. There's clearly a punchline in here somewhere that we're missing.70.16.143.48

    Big question: what does "most-observed" mean? Most reported? Most likely for a resident to see? Most likely for a resident to pay attention to? -- Dtgriscom (talk) 19:38, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    The comic already answers that question: "Not the most common species in the state, just the one people have reported the most times." 174.53.211.85 20:06, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    iNaturalist is a phone app used by people to help contribute to citizen science (i.e. help collect data for research), so people scan animals/plants that they see to send to iNaturalist databases to be identified automatically. Most-observed means the species that are most reported to the database (so the species with the most scans). The comic notes most reported ≠ most common since many people just ignore species of animals/plants they don't believe to be notable enough to take the effort to scan such as grass. 97.126.175.170 20:10, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    If people were reporting common animals they see, they'd probably be dogs and cats. And even more common would be insects -- a backyard probably has hundreds of ants living in it. Barmar (talk) 23:30, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
    "reporting common animals they see," iNat members report what they think is worth reporting. I aint got time to figure if I see more cedar or maple-- in fact I reported a maple only cuz I found a spectaculary colorful maple leaf, a great picture. It is casual observations, not a strict census. (Yes, some observers get a bit obsessive, but still.......) Yes, dogs get reported a lot-- it is a great way to learn the process and you may already have good photos of Rover. -- PRR (talk) 01:04, 22 July 2025 (UTC) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
    Does this app double as an identification tool? In that case it might also be animals/plants that people don't know and are curious about. (I live in Germany and have a similar app for plants, but I admit I mostly use it for stuff that catches my eye, not for stuff I think is scientifically worth reporting.)--176.199.208.178 07:36, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    >"double as an identification tool?" Yes. It has an expert-computer (pre-"AI") tool and also (human?) commenters, some very expert in a field. I get various 'salamanders' and iNat returns very specific identification. It's totally free. You don't have to use their 'app'. You should try it. --PRR (talk) 15:32, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

    For the other U.S. Territories not mentioned (sorted animal, plant):

    • Guam: Hawaiian Garden Spider, Coconut Palm
    • Northern Marianas: Mariana Kingfisher, Alim
    • American Samoa: Striped Surgeonfish, Fish Poison Tree
    • US Virgin Islands: Green Iguana, Portia Tree

    United States Minor Outlying Islands (collectively): Laysan Albatross, Stalky Grass

    • Baker Island: Painted Lady, Rugosa Rose
    • Howland Island: (not a valid location in iNat)
    • Jarvis Island: Masked Booby, Sooty Tern (tie), (no plant)
    • Johnston Atoll: Great Frigatebird, Beach Plant
    • Kingman Reef: (no animal or plant)
    • Midway Atoll: Laysan Albatross, Beach Naupaka
    • Navassa Island: (not a valid location in iNat)
    • Palmyra Atoll: Red-Footed Booby, Grand-Devil's Claws
    • Wake Island: (not a valid location in iNat)

    122.56.85.105 21:44, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

    You seem to be confusing Baker Island (in the Pacific) with various Baker's Islands in New England. --2601:19B:4103:97F0:C0A5:13A4:35B3:1B35 11:20, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

    The surprising part is that palmettos isn't South Carolina's and deer isn't Maine's, and Virginia Springbeauty is in Ohio. Strontium (talk) 03:21, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

    > "deer isn't Maine's" Deer in Maine ain't what they used to be. Deer love abandoned farmland going back to wilderness. That happened in Maine in the 1930s as cars changed farming and vacationing. Much of Maine is more heavily wooded today than any time since 1800. I saw more deer in New Jersey. -- PRR (talk) 15:44, 23 July 2025 (UTC) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

    Is there a category for the very rare XKCD strips which don't include any humour, even in the alt text? I can't think of any from recent years, which makes this one extraordinary, but I might be forgetting some obvious examples. 82.42.161.198 16:29, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

    Now counts I think? Both Money and the Election Challengers map have some humor iirc. 2600:1700:BF20:D10:1C87:359:5132:6A85 16:46, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    You could argue Now doesn't count because "assuming the Earth continues spinning" is likely intended as humor or at least is humorously pedantic. TheAnvil (talk) 17:19, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
    A cursory look at the chart-based comics suggests Visual Field, Marriage, and Dominant Players as possible contenders (depending on what you find humorous). Surprisingly many are eliminated by the alt text alone (e.g. Congress). Of course, many of the early sketches fall under this category (e.g. Petit Trees) but there definitely aren’t many recent ones. 2600:1700:BF20:D10:DCFB:7F23:8215:86A5 19:42, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

    @<yourfavouriteAI> please write a python script that replaces each name of a State, Plant, or Animal in this list by a link to en.wikipedia.org. (Or just do it directly.) --2001:16B8:CC3A:C700:452A:E6C7:F2AE:A2F8 18:14, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

    Not as the page currently stands. The only mention, currently, of the entire list is in the Transcript. Which should not be linked to anywhere.
    This is actually an ideal article to use a (sortable) table for, in the Explanation itself. Three columns: State, Animal and Plant. In that, you can link each state and the first (and perhaps only) appearance of any wikilinkable fauna/flora. (You could add a symbol/key to each entry that's an invasive species, or use cell hues on a scale of green=natural to red=devestatingly displacing. Maybe fourth/fifth columns for such notes about the iNaturalist data, including what actually is officially the most common thing, objectively. But maybe not, if it clutters things up too much.)
    And I also wouldn't trust an AI to write a script to do this. (Why not just ask the AI to give you the result directly, if you're so inclined?) Nor would I think it worthwhile to do such a convoluted way of doing such a simple task that's not even being reliably automated so that you could repeat it. Just think/act for yourself, in cases like these. AI is the new 2267: Blockchain, and still not in a good way. 82.132.244.114 19:28, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
    Done a table for you. If you don't like the way I've HRed the info (to keep columns compact, make at least one HR 'level' (possible HR+"See also <other states>", possible HR and+"Invasive/other note") an additional column fairly easily. Or I had considered align-righting the HRed stuff, for further visual separation. Either way, everything is linked (manually checked, possible made manual errors) once per fauna/flora example.
    Also overwrote the unfinished (indeed, unstarted) table that someone else put there, and of course removed the "Do a table" {{incomplete}} thing. 92.23.2.228 07:36, 26 July 2025 (UTC)

    I noticed that if you go to Randall's Bluesky account here and check the alt-text for the comics, there's a basic transcript available. Here's the one for today: The Most-Observed Animal and Plant in Each State on iNaturalist. (Not the most common species in the state, just the one people have reported the most times.) [labeled map of the US] WA: Mallard/Western Sword Fern. OR: Mule Deer/Western Ponderosa Pine. CA: Western Fence Lizard/California Poppy. HI: Green Sea Turtle/‘Ōhi’a Lehua. ID: Mallard/Big Sagebrush. NV: Common Side-Blotched Lizard/Creosote Bush. MT: White-Tailed Deer/Common Yarrow. WY: American Bison/Sticky Geranium. UT: Mule Deer/Utah Juniper. AZ: Ornate Tree Lizard/Saguaro. CO: Mule Deer/Great Mullein. NM: Mule Deer/Creosote Bush. AK: Moose/Fireweed. ND: American Bison/Prairie Rose. SD: American Bison/Hoary Vervain. NE: American Robin/Common Milkweed. KS: Ornate Box Turtle/Amur Honeysuckle. OK: Pond Slider/Eastern Redcedar. TX: Northern Cardinal/Pinladies. MN, WI, IL: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Common Milkweed. IA, MI: White-Tailed Deer/Common Milkweed. MO: Brown-Belted Bumble Bee/Amur Honeysuckle. AR: Three-toed Box Turtle/Chinese Privet. LA: Green Anole/Baldcypress. IN: American Robin/Amur Honeysuckle. OH: Eastern Pondhawk/Virginia Springbeauty. KY: Common Box Turtle/Amur Honeysuckle. TN: American Robin/Christmas Fern. MS: Northern Cardinal/Pale Pitcher Plant. AL: Gulf Fritillary/American Sweetgum. GA: Green Anole/American Sweetgum. FL: Brown Anole/White Beggarticks. NY: Eastern Gray Squirrel/White Snakeroot. PA: White-Tailed Deer/Garlic Mustard. WV: White-Tailed Deer/Great Rhododendron. VA: White-Tailed Deer/Eastern Poison Ivy. MD: White-Tailed Deer/Wineberry. DE: Fowler’s Toad/American Pokeweed. NC: Eastern Gray Squirrel/Christmas Fern. SC: Northern Cardinal/American Sweetgum. NJ: Spotted Lanternfly/Common Mugwort. VT: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Eastern White Pine. NH: White-Tailed Deer/Eastern White Pine. MA: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Eastern White Pine. CT: Common Eastern Bumble Bee/Striped Wintergreen. RI: American Herring Gull. ME: American Herring Gull/Canadian Bunchberry. Maybe the bot could add this. 50.190.39.57 17:51, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

    Did some more research, the endpoint is here and the object is (response).feed[0].record.embed.images[0].alt. Unfortunately, there's no line breaks, but overall, should be good! I am kinda busy so can't do a PR on the github repo but it should be fairly easy to implement. 50.190.39.57 18:07, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
    This would be an interesting map to color code by group. Like that "largest employer by state" map that has different colors for employment classification: government, education, medical, retail, manufacturing, and Denver International Airport. RegularSizedGuy (talk) 17:58, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
          comment.png  Add comment
    Retrieved from "https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3118:_iNaturalist_Animals_and_Plants&oldid=381951"