A stunning green and pink praying mantis stands on a gray sidewalk.

A stunning green and pink praying mantis stands on a gray sidewalk.

Close up of a green and red praying mantis. Its eyes are two shades of pink.

The back of the praying mantis is a gradient from vibrant pink to dark brown.

Sometimes you spot an insect that only has about 20 iNaturalist observations just ... hanging out on a sidewalk. Say hello to Paramantis natalensis!

📷 nishthi on iNaturalist
📍 South Africa
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

There are currently only nine iNaturalist observations of this amazing snail, Antidrymaeus stramineus! Here's the most recent one.

📷 floydh on iNaturalist
📍 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Small green scalepod fruit on thin stems growing among moss.

Close-up view of a scalepod fruit, which is disc-shaped and green with a reddish-brown marking at the top.

Side view of a scalepod fruit, which is disc-shaped and green with a reddish-brown marking at the top.

Tiny scalepod plant growing among moss.

Tiny but one of a kind — scalepod (Idahoa scapigera) is the sole species in its genus, standing barely 10 cm tall. Easy to walk right past, hard to forget once you spot it.

📷 grant-bowler on iNaturalist
📍 Canada
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Filigreed Moth (Chimoptesis pennsylvaniana) Filigreed Moth from Brecksville, OH 44141, USA on March 11, 2026 at 09:05 PM by Jared Mizanin. I am looking for an ID on the MOTH, not the Spring Peeper. As I was photographing the frog the m...

📷 jaredmizanin on iNaturalist
📍 United States
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) Snowy Owl from Waterloo Regional Municipality, ON, Canada on March 1, 2026 at 05:46 PM by pjmorgan1

📷 pjmorgan1 on iNaturalist
📍 Canada
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Yareta (Azorella compacta) Yareta from Carretera al Colca, Arequipa, PE on March 6, 2026 at 03:48 PM by D. Hämmerli

📷 alpineflora on iNaturalist
📍 Peru
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Solomon Island Spiny Monitor (Varanus spinulosus) Solomon Island Spiny Monitor from Hovukoilo, SB-IS, SB on March 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM by Cole Chapman

📷 colechap on iNaturalist
📍 Solomon Islands
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Winter Bumblefly (Criorhina villosa) Winter Bumblefly from Fauquier County, VA, USA on March 1, 2026 at 01:21 PM by Jeff Clark

📷 jeffdc on iNaturalist
📍 United States
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran) Great Hammerhead in March 2026 by Katherine Watkinson

📷 kat_meifyoucan on iNaturalist
📍 Cayman Islands
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Subspecies Pulsatilla halleri rhodopaea Pulsatilla halleri rhodopaea in March 2026 by savvassim

📷 savvassim on iNaturalist
📍 Greece
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Orchid Mantis (Hymenopus coronatus) Orchid Mantis from Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai, TH on February 5, 2026 at 06:29 PM by entomolovro

📷 entomolovro on iNaturalist
📍 Thailand
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Hilaire’s Side-necked Turtle (Phrynops hilarii) Hilaire’s Side-necked Turtle from 40000 Departamento de Rivera, Uruguay on February 13, 2026 at 05:57 PM by Adriana Machado

📷 adriana_machado on iNaturalist
📍 Uruguay
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Stegomyrmex vizottoi Stegomyrmex vizottoi from Curitiba - PR, Brasil on February 15, 2026 at 05:20 PM by Dido

📷 didobola on iNaturalist
📍 Brazil
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Subspecies Algidia viridata bicolor Algidia viridata bicolor from Charleston 7892, New Zealand on February 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM by Sebastian Doak

📷 sebastiandoak on iNaturalist
📍 New Zealand
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Haplocampa wagnelli Haplocampa wagnelli in February 2026 by James King

📷 james_king780 on iNaturalist
📍 Canada
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Heterotemna tenuicornis Heterotemna tenuicornis from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España on January 31, 2026 at 08:26 PM by Amanhuy Duque y Andrea Castro. For the adult

The beetle (in the upper left) belongs to the species Heterotemna tenuicornis and has just 31 observations on iNaturalist!

📷 amaneko on iNaturalist
📍 Spain
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A yellow, gray, and white patterned snail that looks almost iridescent crawls among algae.

A yellow, gray, orange, and white patterned snail that looks almost iridescent crawls among algae.

The snail is about a third as wide as a human fingertip.

The snail rests among a mat of algae.

This magnificent little snail is likely in the genus Calliostoma — click through the photos for a sense of scale! 👀

📷 kychinmay on iNaturalist
📍 India
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Special worms!! You're looking at possibly the first living images of Bimastos welchi, found under rocks at a Missouri conservation area.

📷 bathroomstahl on iNaturalist
📍 United States
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

Meet Barbour's Clawed Gecko (Pseudogonatodes barbouri), endemic to Peru! Click through for a peek at the first-ever iNat observation of this charming lizard (last photo).

📷 raul_ortiz_rios on iNaturalist
📍 Peru
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A white bird with beige fringe grasps a large frog in its long beak.

Western cattle egret vs. large snack.

📷 marccronje on iNaturalist
📍 South Africa
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

You're looking at a slug caterpillar moth — named for their larvae, which bear a resemblance to slugs. The iNat community hasn't confirmed this one's species quite yet, but it sure is spectacular.

📷 ewoutknoester on iNaturalist
📍 Tanzania
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

White cylindrical tubes grow upward from a dark brown surface.

White cylindrical tubes grow out from a dark brown surface.

From far away, the fungus just looks like scraggy white patches on a log.

A hand holds up a ruler to the patch of fungus — it is quite small, less than 15 centimeters across.

One very rotten deciduous log, one very observant iNaturalist community member — and a close-up world hiding in plain sight. Say hello to the white tubelet (Henningsomyces candidus).

📷 cryptomarasmius on iNaturalist
📍 United Kingdom
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A brown spider with a yellowish-brown head and long, spindly legs.

A brown spider with a yellowish-brown head and long, spindly legs.

A brown spider with a yellowish-brown head and long, spindly legs.

A close-up of the spider's face — it has three long lines down the center of its face and small eyes.

Meet Scytodes ytu — a spitting spider with just 18 observations on iNaturalist. True to their name, spitting spiders hunt by launching wads of venom-laced silk at their prey. 🕷️

📷 jeanmartins on iNaturalist
📍 Brazil
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A long, narrow fish with mustache-like bristles on its face and large eyes stares into the camera.

Sturgeon poachers (Podothecus accipenserinus) like this one hang out near the soft bottom floors of waterways, looking for their next meal. 👀

📷 liamsingh on iNaturalist
📍 Canada
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A plant with a reddish-maroon stem and several pink, oblong blooms grows up from tall grass.

A plant with a reddish-maroon stem and several white and pink, oblong blooms grows up from tall grass.

A plant with a reddish-maroon stem and several white, oblong blooms grows up from tall grass.

A plant with a reddish-maroon stem and several white, oblong blooms grows up from tall grass.

This gorgeous little bloom's scientific name is Disa staerkeriana — there are only 14 iNaturalist observations documented of this rare, endemic plant!

📷 carelf on iNaturalist
📍 South Africa
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A brown bug clings to a plant. A large translucent excretion emerges from its rear.

A brown bug clings to a plant. A large translucent excretion emerges from its rear.

This Psylloid is mid-honeydew excretion! These bugs feed on plants, and species in the family can be found all around the world.

📷 bastian_gargiulo on iNaturalist
📍 Chile
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A white multi-petaled flower with black speckles and lines on the center-most petal.

A white multi-petaled flower with black speckles and lines on the center-most petal.

This gorgeous orchid's scientific name is Chloraea lechleri, and there are currently only 27 records of it on iNaturalist!

📷 antonio1355 on iNaturalist
📍 Argentina
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A black ant with a large head, segmented body, and yellow rear crawls on a plant.

Right now, there are only six iNaturalist records of this striking ant, Myrmecia cydista, which is native to and only found in Australia!

📷 timpaasila on iNaturalist
📍 Australia
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay

A small brown bird with a rusty orange head and a thin beak rests on a vibrant green plant.

Wherever you are, it's a good day to pause and notice your local nature. Today's #ObservationOfTheDay is this Olive-backed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sepium), an insect-eating bird endemic to Indonesia.

📷 ayambotak on iNaturalist
📍 Indonesia
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Zoom in on this amber orb — see the fuzzy brown stick? That's a springtail's antenna. This tiny creature fell victim to Pandora batallata, a fungus from an order called the "Insect Destroyers."

📷 christian_neumann on iNaturalist
📍 Germany
🔗: www.inaturalist.org/observations...
#ObservationOfTheDay