Talk:3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

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)

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

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.

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)