Nevada, a state in the western US, is known for its expansive desert terrain because it mainly falls within the Mojave and the Great Basin Deserts. The state also has a part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range with majestic peaks and alpine landscapes. Nevada supports various wildlife habitats within these diverse landscapes, including sagebrush steppe, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and riparian areas along rivers and streams.
Naturally, this rich landscape is home to diverse desert wildlife species, with the most common native animals in Nevada mentioned below. With 68 designated wilderness areas and 26 state parks, numerous places offer a chance to take a closer look at the state’s wildlife. Two of these include Great Basin National Park in northern Nevada and the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in the state’s southern region.
Animals in Nevada (NV)
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Nevada
Mammals
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Mule Deer
Antelope
American Black BearÂ
Coyote
Sierra Nevada Red FoxÂ
Gray Fox
Kit Fox
Raccoon
Striped Skunk
Western Spotted Skunk
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Desert Cottontail Rabbit
American Badger
American Beaver
Raccoon
Ringtail
Desert Woodrat
Desert Kangaroo Rat
Desert Pocket Mouse
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Ground Squirrel
Long-tailed Weasel
American Mink
Mountain Cottontail Rabbit
White-footed Deer Mouse
California Ground Squirrel
Pallid Bat
Spotted Bat
Mexican Free-tailed BatÂ
Allen’s Big-eared Bat
Endemic Species
Long-eared Chipmunk
Alpine Chipmunk
Animals like the Canada lynx and gray wolf have been extirpated from the state.
Birds
Mountain Bluebird
Mourning Dove
House Finch
Northern Flicker
American Robin
Ferruginous Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Mallard
Wood Duck
Yuma Ridgway’s Rail
Reptiles
Desert Tortoise
Common Snapping Turtle
Sonoran Mud Turtle
Eastern Box Turtle
Western Painted Turtle
Gila Monster
Western Fence Lizard
Collared Lizard
Western Skink
Desert Spiny Lizard
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Northern Desert Horned Lizard
Leopard Lizard
Sidewinder
Western Diamondback
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Bullsnake
Common Garter Snake
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Checkered Garter Snake
Plains Hog-nosed Snake
Western Ribbonsnake
Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer
Western Smooth Green Snake
Western Hognose Snake
Mountain King Snake
Northern Water Snake
Amphibians
Tiger Salamander
Western Toad
Great Basin Spadefoot
American Bullfrog
Columbia Spotted Frog
Northern Leopard Frog
Southwestern Toad
Endemic Species
Railroad Valley Toad
Dixie Valley Toad
Hot Creek Toad
Vegas Valley Leopard Frog
Amargosa Toad
Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog
Fishes
Channel Catfish
Bullhead Catfish
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
White Bass
Walleye
Speckled Dace
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
Black Crappie
White Crappie
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout
Rainbow Trout
Bull Trout
Ash Meadows
Amargosa Pupfish
Pumpkinseed
Green Sunfish
Humpback Chub
Endemic Species
Cui-ui
Devils Hole Pupfish
Independence Valley Tui Chub
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
Moapa Dace
Great Basin Redband Trout
White River Springfish
Insects and Invertebrates
Nevada offers ideal climatic conditions for arachnids like spiders and scorpions, with 23 species of scorpions calling the state their home. There are plenty of insects as well.
Black Widow
Brown Recluse
Carolina Wolf Spider
Desert Tarantula
Arizona Bark Scorpion
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
Assassin Bug
Western Honey Bee
Valley Carpenter Bee
House Fly
Argentine Ant
Monarch Butterfly
Western Pondhawk Dragonfly
American Rubyspot Damselfly
Phantom Crane Fly
Rainbow Scarab Beetle
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Praying Mantis
Walking Stick Insect
Brown Lacewing
Endemic Species
Giulianii’s Dune ScarabÂ
Duckwater Pyrg (Snail)
Median-gland Nevada Springsnail
White Pine Amphipod
State Animals of Nevada
State Mammals
Desert Bighorn Sheep
State Bird
Mountain Bluebird
State Fish
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
State Reptile
Desert Tortoise
State Insect
Vivid Dancer Damselfly
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in Nevada?
Nevada is famous for its deadly snakes, spiders, and insects capable of killing humans with one bite (or sting). The state is home to venomous reptiles like the Gila monster, sidewinder, western diamondback, and Great Basin rattlesnake. Dangerous spiders and insects include black widows, brown recluses, desert tarantulas, Arizona bark scorpions, and assassin bugs. The state also has its share of predatory carnivores like the American black bear, Canada lynx, and coyote.
Are there any endangered animals in Nevada?
All the endemic animals mentioned above are classified as threatened or endangered. Additionally, birds like the southwestern willow flycatcher, Yuma Ridgway’s rail, yellow-billed cuckoo, and fishes like Ash Meadows, Amargosa pupfish, and speckled dace are also endangered in the state.
What are some common invasive animals in Nevada?
Animals typically considered invasive in the rest of the US, like the emerald ash borer and zebra mussels, have also invaded Nevada.
